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Module 1

Anthropology is the study of humans, both past and present. It takes a holistic approach and incorporates the study of human biology, evolution, culture, and language. There are four main subfields: physical/biological anthropology which studies humans from an evolutionary perspective; archaeology which studies past human cultures; linguistics which examines language; and cultural anthropology which focuses on contemporary human cultures and societies. Anthropology aims to understand people in a cultural relativist framework and helps address real-world problems with applications in many non-academic careers.

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David Burke
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99 views

Module 1

Anthropology is the study of humans, both past and present. It takes a holistic approach and incorporates the study of human biology, evolution, culture, and language. There are four main subfields: physical/biological anthropology which studies humans from an evolutionary perspective; archaeology which studies past human cultures; linguistics which examines language; and cultural anthropology which focuses on contemporary human cultures and societies. Anthropology aims to understand people in a cultural relativist framework and helps address real-world problems with applications in many non-academic careers.

Uploaded by

David Burke
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cultural

Anthropology
What We Will Learn
• How does anthropology differ from other social
and behavioral sciences?
• What is the four- field approach to the
discipline of anthropology?
• How can anthropology help solve social
problems?
• What is meant by “cultural relativism,” and why
is it important?
• What skills will students develop from the study
of anthropology?
What do you think of when I say
Anthropology?
• Elderly man with white hair and a beard
• Wearing khaki clothes (usually shorts with
knee high socks) and a large brimmed hat
• Working in the dirt?
• Or does this come to mind?
• He still has the khaki clothes
but his hat is a bit different
What do you think of when I say
Anthropology? continued
• For most people, anthropology is known by
television specials on archeology.
Archeology is but one of the many areas in
the discipline of anthropology.

A real Archaeologist, Dr. Richard Ross


What is Anthropology?
• According to Ferraro, Anthropology is the
scientific study of people both biologically
and culturally
• their origins
• their development, and contemporary
variations
• wherever and whenever they have
been found
What is Anthropology? cont.
• Ferraro goes on to explain that being an
anthropologist means that you study peoples'
origins, their differences, and their
development.
• Anthropologist study people who lived
millions of years ago and people who live
today.
Holism
• A distinguishing feature of the discipline of
anthropology is its holistic approach to the
study of human groups.
• Anthropology involves both biological and
sociocultural aspects of humanity.
• The time frame goes from the earliest
beginnings of humans to the present.
• Anthropology studies all varieties of people
wherever they may be found.
• Anthropology aims to describe what it
means to be human.
Anthropology spans the gap
• Wolf suggests that, "anthropology spans the
gap between the humanities, the social
sciences, and the natural sciences"(1964).
• Because Anthropology is holistic, or all
inclusive, it incorporates many other
disciplines. As mentioned in your book,
sociology, biology and economics are just a
few.
Branches of Anthropology
• Physical (Biological) Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Anthropological Linguistics
• Cultural Anthropology
• Sometimes Applied Anthropology is
considered a fifth branch and other times
it is included in each area in its own
unique way
Physical Anthropology
• Deals with humans biologically.
• Paleontology- reconstructing the
evolutionary record of the human species
• Primatology
• Human variation- how & why physical
traits of contemporary humans vary
• Forensic Anthropology
• Applied Physical Anthropology
Physical Anthropology cont.
• Study of humans from a biological perspective.
• Areas of investigation:
• Paleoanthropology: emergence of humans
and how humans have evolved through the
study of fossil remains
• Includes primatology
• Led to forensic anthropology.
• Human variation: how and why the physical
traits of human populations vary.
Forensic Anthropology
• Dr. Kathy Reichs, a
forensic anthropologist,
works with police, the
courts, medical
examiners, and
international
organizations to identify
victims of crimes,
disasters, and genocide.
• Dr. Reichs inspired the
primetime TV series
Bones.
Primatology
• Study of anatomy and social behavior of nonhuman
primate species: gorillas, baboons, and chimpanzees.
• Effort to learn about human evolution by studying
contemporary nonhuman primates in similar
environments.
• Tool-making skills found in chimpanzees help explain
human strategies for adapting to the environment.
Primatology continued
• Primatologist Diane
Brockman studies the
behavior of
Coquerel's sifaka at
the Duke University
Primate Center.
Human Variation
• There is considerable physical variation
among human populations.
• Race is not a fixed biological entity.
• Physical variation helps people adapt to
their environments.
• Physical anthropologists often work with
genetics and population biology.
Archaeology
• Archaeologists attempt to reconstruct the
cultures of the past, most of which have no
written records.
• Historical archaeology
• Prehistoric archaeology
• Contract archaeology
• Applied archaeology
• CRM
Archaeologists
• Historic archaeologists:
• Reconstruct the cultures of people who
used writing and about whom historical
documents have been written.
• Prehistoric archaeologists:
• Study the human record of cultures that
existed before the development of
writing.
Archaeology continued
• Study people from the past by excavating and analyzing
material culture they leave behind:
• Artifacts
• Example: tools, arrowheads.
• Features
• Examples: foundations and fireplaces.
• Ecofacts
• Examples: bones, seeds, and wood.
Cultural Resource Management
• Applied archaeology that involves high-
quality research before sites are disturbed
or destroyed
• This field has grown rapidly in recent
years.
Anthropological Linguistics
• Focus on the study of language in historical,
structural, and social contexts.
• Historical linguistics
• Descriptive linguistics
• Ethnolinguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Applied linguistics
• Consultants
Linguistics
• Historical linguistics
• Study of emergence of language and
how specific languages have diverged
over time.
• Descriptive linguistics
• Study of sound systems, grammatical
systems, and the meanings attached to
words in specific languages.
Linguistics continued
• Ethnolinguistics (cultural linguistics)
• Study the relationship between
language and culture.
• Sociolinguistics
• Study the relationship between
language and social relations.
Cultural Anthropology
• Investigate living cultures within their own
environment and can compare and contrast findings
between contemporary cultures of the world.

Areas of Specialization:
• Economic anthropology
• Environmental Anthropology
• Psychological anthropology
• Educational anthropology
• Medical anthropology
• Urban anthropology
• Political anthropology
• Applied cultural anthropology
Two Facets of Cultural
Anthropology
Ethnography Ethnology
Descriptive Comparative
Based on direct Uses data collected by
fieldwork other ethnographers
Focuses on a single Generalizes across
culture or subculture cultures or subcultures
Basics: Ethnocentrism
• The practice of viewing the customs of
other societies in terms of one’s own.
• The belief that one’s own culture is
superior to all others.
• This is a major obstacle to understanding
other cultures.
Basics: Cultural Relativism
• The idea that cultural traits are best
understood when viewed within the
cultural context of which they are a part.
• Serves as a cognitive tool to help us
understand why people think and act as
they do.
Limits of Cultural Relativism
1. If every society is unique and can only
be evaluated in terms of its own
standards, a cross-cultural comparison
impossible.
2. There is no behavior that could be
considered immoral if the people who
practice it consider it acceptable or it
functions for the well-being of the
society.
Emic Versus Etic Approaches
• The emic approach (insider view) seeks
to describe another culture in terms of the
categories, concepts, and perceptions of
the people being studied.
• In the etic approach (outsider view),
anthropologists use their own categories
and concepts to describe the culture
under analysis.
Contributions of Anthropology
• Enhances understanding in a world of increased
global interconnections
• Helps solve societal problems, including
development of new products.
• Helps build skills for the 21st century:
• Develop a broad perspective
• Appreciate other perspectives
• Balance contradictions
• Emphasize global teamwork
• Develop cognitive complexity
• Develop perceptual acuity
Value of Anthropology
• Individual
• The study of different cultures provides a
better understanding of one’s own culture
and develops valuable leadership skills.
• Societal
• Understanding different cultures can
contribute to the solution of pressing societal
problems.
Non-Academic Career
Opportunities in Anthropology
Subfield Examples
Physical Forensic specialists with law
Anthropology enforcement
Museum curator
Genetic counselor
Human rights investigator
Zoologist/primatologist
Public health official
Non-Academic Career
Opportunities in Anthropology A
Subfield Examples
Archaeology Cultural resource management
Museum curator
Environmental impact specialist
Historical archaeologist
Contract (salvage)
archaeologist
Non-Academic Career
Opportunities in Anthropology B
Subfield Examples
Anthropological ESL teacher in public schools
Linguistics International business trainer
Foreign language teacher
Cross-cultural
advertising/marketing
Translator/interpreter
Non-Academic Career
Opportunities in Anthropology C
Subfield Examples
Cultural International business consultant
Anthropology Cross-cultural consultant in hospital
Museum curator
International economic development
worker
International human resources manager
Public school educator
Immigration/refugee counselor
Cultural Anthropology cont.
• The study of cultural
anthropology
prepares students for
working in the global
economy of the 21st
century.
Ferraro’s Bottom Line
• If Cultural Anthropology is to help us better
understand our complex world, we must:
• Understand other cultures

• Understand our own culture

• Understand how others see us

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