WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY? EMPHASIS ON CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Cultural Anthropology, Lecture 1 Dr. Martin LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Develop an understanding of anthropology and how the subfields of anthropology interrelate 2. Distinguish between cultural anthropology and the other subfields of anthropology 3. Develop an understanding for the importance of anthropology, particularly cultural anthropology, in today’s world 4. Practice thinking like an anthropologist. ANTHROPOLOGY Anthro= human Ology= the study of… The study of the past and present biological and cultural variation within the human species ANTHROPOLOGY Major question addressed within anthropology: What Does It Mean To Be Human? DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS 1. Holistic Emphasizes the functional relation between parts and the whole No single aspect of culture can be understood alone IntegrationPast of all that is known about Present humans and their activities Language Genetics Holism= Integration Culture Anatomy DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS 2. Comparative  Compare patterns of variation  Consideration of similarities & differences  Draw comparison  Anthropology also includes the cross-cultural & relativistic perspective to comparison  What does these perspective mean for anthropological studies?  Compare objectively without making value judgments  Look at culture in its own context DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS 2. Comparative & Cross-Cultural Perspective Skeletal Features Left: Chimpanzee; Right: Modern Human Coming of Age Ceremonies Left: Korean; Right: Maasi (Kenya) DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS 3. Field-based  Data collection; direct contact Education and Identity in Rural France: The Politics of Schooling The Cultural Implications of International Migration in the Light of Fieldwork Evidence DISTINCTIVE WAY OF STUDYING HUMANS 4. Evolutionary  Observations placed in temporal framework  Consider change over time  How does this perspective apply to cultural anthropology?  Cultural evolution – 19th century, considered an outgrowth of Darwinian evolution  Over time, cultural change occurs as a result of humans adapting to some non-cultural stimulus CULTURAL AND HUMANS What is culture?  Set of learned behavior and ideas that humans beings acquire as members of a society Humans are biocultural organisms Environment  What does this mean? Triangle of Adaptation  Biological and cultural factors influence the world around us Biology Culture ANTHROPOLOGY: CROSS-DISCIPLINARY Spans the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities Diversity with the discipline : 4 subfields Holistic  Biological (Physical) Anthropology  Cultural Anthropology  Linguistic Anthropology  Archaeology Applied Anthropology FIGURE 1.1 The subfields of anthropology Copyright © 2008 by Robert H. Lavenda and Emily A. Schultz. Purpose: Describe, analyze, interpret, and explain social and cultural similarities and differences of living human cultures in all parts of the world CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Objectives of Cultural Anthropology What are the behavioral characteristics of the human species? Understand how all aspects of culture function as a whole. Study how cultures change over time CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Traditionally, nonwestern cultures. Today, a wider focus including segments of Western Society CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY Variation in beliefs and behaviors of members of different human groups  Shaped by sets of learned behaviors and ideas that human beings acquire as members of society Study all human societies  Urban & Rural, Developed & Developing, Western & Non-Western Conduct fieldwork  Participant observation  Ethnography CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH What Can It Tell Us? • Social organization – comparison of different forms of human social life, kinship patterns, social groupings • Cultural conflict – war, ethnicity, politics, aftermath of conflict • Subsistence patterns – strategies, land ownership, environment CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY RESEARCH What Can It Tell Us? SUMMARY - ANTHROPOLOGY Anthropology:  Integrated, scientific, and holistic study of human cultural and biological variation Humans are biocultural organisms Biology and culture are interdependent  Human biology makes culture possible- human culture makes human biological survival possible SUMMARY – CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY  Sub-discipline of anthropology  Studies all human societies  Examines a wide-range of topics including but not limited to:  Economics & Exchange  Religion & Worldview  Globalization  Migration  Subsistence Patterns  Marriage & Family  Politics & Government FREE-WRITE JAN 8, 2014 United Nations established Millennium Development Goals focusing on a wide range of topics including  Food security & sustainable food future  Halting the spread of infectious diseases  Universal primary education  Preventing under-five mortality  Water sanitation and access to water Based off of what we learned today, briefly discuss how cultural anthropology research may help the United Nations and their partners achieve one of these goals. IN-CLASS ACTIVITY Research in Cultural Anthropology Worksheet In this activity, students will:  Using areas of research interest, identify possible research questions / themes We will do one example as a class  The other three examples will be worked on in small-groups. Be prepared to share your responses with the class. Worldview One’s placement in world Cultural group’s placement in world Interaction with environment Family Cultural definition of family Marriage patterns Subsistence Patterns Cultural Anthropology Usage of environment Animals or plants not consumed Health & Culture Parts of animal consumed Individual & group roles Sex differences Perception of health Geographical access to health