Anthropology

What is Anthropology? • Anthropology is the study of human beings as a species and as members of different cultures There are two MAIN braches of anthropology Cultural Anthropology and Physical Anthropology

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY is broken into the following 3 branches: Ethnology – Ethnologists immerse themselves in a culture for months or years and take meticulous notes. Linguistic Anthropology – Linguistic anthropologists study the history and structure of language, and the ways humans use language. Archaeology – Archaeologists study the physical remains of a past culture through excavation and reconstruction.

What is Culture? Culture consists of all shared and learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values and ideals that are passed on from generation to generation among a particular society or population. Two Sides of Culture: Non-material side of culture includes thoughts and behaviors we learn and share with others - Example: values, ideas, beliefs, language, rules, customs, skills Material side of culture: All physical objects humans create and give meaning to. - Example: tools, technology, clothing, weapons, art

Components of Culture: Values: Standards of what is important, good, true, ethical - Example: Wealth, status, family, codes of behavior - Specific Example: Norms: Rules that indicate what should motivate behavior in specific situations - Example: appropriate dress, manners, communication

Symbols: Something or someone that represents something or someone else Example: Religious, National -Specific Example: Beliefs: Shared ideas explaining the world and reaffirming group affiliation Example: Religious, Scientific Roles: positions, rights, obligations conceptualized in social situation Example: work, family, social

Material, Non Material or Both? Food Art Values Religion Shelter Industry Dress Myth Science Weapons Transportation Attitudes Laws Child rearing Property Family relationships/marriage Philosphy

So What is Culture? • It is acquired and created over time & \ has historical roots – it is learned & shared to form a distinct society What do Cultures have in Common? CULTURE IS LEARNED CULTURE IS SHARED CULTURE DEFINES NATURE CULTURE SHAPES HOW WE PERCIEVE AND UNDERSTAND THE WORLD CULTURE HAS PATTERNS

What is Cultural Anthropology? • Explores how culture has shaped the way people live today & in the past Cultural anthropologist often question how another culture can be understood by an outsider

List of Concepts Language Religion Social Organization Politics History Economics Kinship Music Marriage & Family Art Clothing Globalization

Nacirema – Body Rituals Reading

Ethnocentrism • What is it? • Ethno = means a group that identifies itself by common features (ethnicity) • Centrism is derived from the word centre • being ethnocentric means that you perceive your culture (beliefs, lifestyle, ideas, and values) as superior or at least more important than other cultures (it is the centre of all things) • ALL other cultures would be considered inferior, weird, or strange and be measured against their own

Some very simple examples of ethnocentric thinking. .. .. We often talk about British drivers driving "on the wrong side" of the road. Why not just say "opposite side" or even "left hand side"? We talk about written Hebrew or Arabic as reading "backward." Why not just say "from right to left" or "in the opposite direction from English." We consider certain types of art “naive” or “primitive”

While ethnocentric views are not necessarily intended, they have led to major human disasters throughout history causing Bullying, Discrimination, Intolerance, War, Genocide….

CULTURAL RELATIVISM Anthropologists promote cultural relativism as an approach to understanding diversity. Cultural relativism - individual human's beliefs and activities make sense in terms of his or her own culture. logical outcome of the diverse environments in which humans live. No right or wrong, there is no fixed truth but rather all is relative. What are some examples of ideas that are culturally relative?

FEMALE BEAUTY: is it a cultural universal? Why or Why not?

FOOD?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Can you think of examples of universal values that supersede the particularities of cultures? What are the challenges associated with determining international standards for morality within cultural relativism? What are the benefits of cultural relativism? What would you say are the deficiencies or dangers of cultural relativism?

SOME AIMS OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY: To provide objective insight into other cultures To help preserve valuable knowledge, cultural practices and languages around the world To foster cross-cultural empathy, understanding and collaboration To emphasize similarities among human cultures and help bridge their differences and misunderstandings

National Geographic- Taboo – Delicacies

Physical Anthropology Examines how humans have developed biologically over time Examines similarities & differences b/w humankind & other species Example topics: primates and evolution

Physical Anthropology Physical Anthropologists attempt to answer the question, “What makes us Human?”

3 Branches of Physical Anthropology Paleoanthropology - study bones and stone remains of our ancient ancestors from millions of years ago Primatology – study primates Human Variation – study of physical differences and similarities of existing human populations

Primatology & Human Variation

Why Study Primates? Scientific research & DNA analysis has concluded that humans belong to the biological group designated primates Humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orang-utans, etc • Genetic evidence suggests humans only 1-2% different from other primates • Humans & other primates do not directly descend from chimpanzees/gorillas Evidence suggests that we all share a common ancestor The more we learn about our primate cousins, the more we learn about ourselves

A Few Similarities and Differences Bipedalism (ability to walk upright for extended periods of time) language to communicate complex and abstract ideas Infant dependency of 20+ years – monogamy and complex social structures Abstract thinking - we develop ideas about our world that guides our actions & allows us to reflect on our behaviour Opposable thumbs Highly developed brain Capacity to think and learn Communicate socially through facial expression and body language Children are dependent on adults for care (social and physical)

Jane Goodall 1960 - Jane Goodall arrives on shore of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa Purpose: to study chimpanzee population The chimpanzees initial response was to flee when Jane came near Jane observed from a distance and over time was accepted into the group

Human Variation: What explains the variation in human populations? Variation essential to survival Environmental change – species must adapt – variation ensures that some individuals will be able to adapt and pass on that trait Human Sub-groups: Race: a socially constructed idea – the meaning of “race” goes beyond the physical traits: what does it mean to be “white” or “asian” or “black”? NOT a scientific category – not biologically relevant Social idea of race was / is used to justify the different, and often inhumane, treatment of others, even to the point of extermination

Skin Colour Micro adaptation to environment As humans moved north, skin lightened to allow for more adsorption of UV rays to produce vitamin D

Jane Goodall Jane interacted with the chimps and observed 1 day she observed two chimps strip leaves off twigs to make a tool that allowed them to dig for termites Until then, scientists believed only humans made tools Goodall concluded that chimps have unique personalities, emotions, and minds