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Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology

Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology. What is anthropology?. Anthropology is the systematic study of humankind.  - man  - word/study Emergence of the discipline Two major goals: Understand uniqueness and diversity Discover fundamental similarities. Four-field Approach.

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Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology

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  1. Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology

  2. What is anthropology? • Anthropology is the systematic study of humankind. •  - man •  - word/study • Emergence of the discipline • Two major goals: • Understand uniqueness and diversity • Discover fundamental similarities

  3. Four-field Approach • Four subdisciplines bridge science and humanities: • Physical Anthropology • Archaeology • Linguistics • Cultural Anthropology

  4. Physical Anthropology • Primarily concerned with humans as a biological species • Most closely related to natural sciences • Major research areas: • Human evolution • Modern human variation • Subdisciplines: • Palaeoanthropology, primatology, forensics, palaeopathology, human osteology, genetics

  5. Archaeology • Archaeologists seek out and examine the artifacts (material products) of past societies. • Archaeology is not treasure-hunting (a la Indiana Jones). • Subdisciplines of archaeology: • Prehistoric, historic, Classical, Biblical, underwater • Modern “trash”

  6. Linguistic Anthropology • Subfield of anthropology, philosophy, and English • Main research areas: • How language is used • Relationship between language and culture • How humans acquire language • Fields of linguistics: • Structural, historical, sociolinguistics

  7. Cultural Anthropology • Sometimes known as ethnology, cultural anthropology examines contemporary societies and cultures throughout the world. • Participant observation: • Ethnography • Ethnographic data

  8. Holism and Applied Anthropology • Training in all four fields required • Links to other social sciences • Sociology, psychology, economics, political science, history • Applied Anthropology • Sometimes called the 5th field • Offers practical solutions to cultural problems • Chapter 18

  9. The Scientific Method • A logical system used to evaluate data derived from systematic observation. • Inductive – first data, then theory • Deductive – first theory, then evaluation Inductive Model Deductive Model

  10. Anthropology and Humanities(Post-processual approaches) • Humanistic interpretive approach • Analogies • Used primarily in cultural anthropology • Examples of humanistic subdisciplines: • Ethnopoetics, ethnomusicology, art, myth, literature • More in Chapter 6

  11. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism • Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own society. • Nacirema discussion • Culturalrelativism is the view that cultural traditions must be understood within the context of a particular society’s responses to problems and opportunities. • Relativism exercise

  12. The Nacirema • How do the Nacirema differ from other cultures you are familiar with? • How are they the same? • This article was written in the 1950s—do you think it’s too harsh a look at anthropology • Do you think this article helps you recognize your own cultural biases? • Define ethnocentrism. • Does this article speak to the problems with ethnocentrism?

  13. Great Britain - 1966

  14. Guinea Bissau, Africa

  15. The Americas

  16. The Netherlands

  17. Italy

  18. Tibet, 1997

  19. Mexico - November 1

  20. U.S. - Virginia, 2000

  21. Cultural Relativism • The values of one culture should not be used as standards to evaluate the behavior of persons from outside that culture; a society’s custom and beliefs should by described objectively. • Modern approach: We should strive for objectivity and not be too quick to judge; however, there are some moral absolutes that are removed from culture. • Discussion: • Afghani women, refugees • Medical aid workers • September 11th

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