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1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

In other classes we included images of examples of items. This time try to think of examples on your own... for...

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

American Anthropology socio-cultural bio-physical archaeology linguistics

socio-cultural physical archaeology linguistics American Anthropology

socio-cultural bio-physical archaeology linguistics American Anthropology

socio-cultural bio-physical archaeology linguistics American Anthropology

socio-cultural bio-physical archaeology linguistics American Anthropology

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

“culture” is –learned –shared –transmitted from generation to generation –based on symbols –integrated Main Characteristics

“culture” –learned –shared –transmitted from generation to generation –based on symbols –integrated Main Characteristics some focus on the idea that it involves “shared understanding”

“culture” is not inherited (i.e., is not biological) is not “instinct” Main Characteristics

“cultures” are groups of people sharing a common heritage (and usually a common language) Main Characteristics

“cultures” are “integrated” -- an idea that was pioneered and emphasized by the “pioneer” anthropologist Ruth Benedict Main Characteristics Ruth Fulton Benedict Patterns of Culture 1934

Ruth Fulton Benedict Patterns of Culture 1934

“cultures” are integrated Interact and change –the idea that some cultures (like “hunting and gathering” cultures, or the Amish) do not change is not correct Main Characteristics

The Concept of Culture Microculture –are smaller groups with distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions –some people like to think of these as “local cultures”

The Concept of Culture Microculture –are smaller groups with distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions –some people like to think of these as “local cultures”

What are some examples of microcultures?

The Concept of Culture microcultures can include ethnic groups within nations – e.g., Anishinabe (Chippewa; Ojibwa) – e.g., Irish “Travellers” sometimes incorrectly called “Gypsies” –e.g., Rom (Gypsies) –e.g., Basques – e.g., Kurds – e.g., Australian Aboriginals local groups generally strive to preserve their cultural identity with... language food religion clothing cultural symbols

Examples?

Microculture –a distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking found within larger cultures such as ethnic groups in localized regions –local cultures The Concept of Culture Macroculture a distinct pattern of learned and shared behavior and thinking that crosses local boundaries, such as transnational culture and global culture

What are some examples of macrocultures?

The Concept of Culture... sometimes a people can be either a microculture or a macroculture, depending on how they are viewed...

Examples?

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach development and structure 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

comparative method –as a major approach to the study of human behavior –the comparative method compares things Main Characteristics Compare...

comparative method –One form of comparative method was pioneered by Fred Eggan (University of Chicago) “Social anthropology and the method of controlled comparison” American Anthropologist, 56: (1954) Main Characteristics Compare...

comparative method –One form of comparative method was pioneered by Fred Eggan (University of Chicago) “Social anthropology and the method of controlled comparison ” American Anthropologist, 56: (1954) Main Characteristics Compare...

comparative method –Other methods... compare things regionally in an attempt to understand process Main Characteristics Compare...

comparative method –Other methods... compare things regionally in an attempt to understand process Main Characteristics Compare...

comparative method –Other methods... compare things regionally in an attempt to understand process Main Characteristics Compare... process essentially refers to how things change or how things came to be the way they are now

the comparative method compares things Main Characteristics Compare...

Can you think of examples of comparative studies in Anthropology?

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique Main Characteristics of Anthropology

socio-cultural bio-physical archaeology linguistics Holism tries to put all of the pieces together...

let’s have a look at that on the “Anthropology and... Its Parts” chart...

NOTE: Usually anthropologists read charts from the bottom up That has to do with the fact that in archaeology the oldest layers are at the bottom of a site and the newer ones are on top

NOTE: There are four levels... (REM: read from the bottom up)

HOLISM Involves all four levels and all of the physical and cultural components combined

holism

Anthropology

... and the two main divisions of Anthropology are bio-physical and cultural...

Anthropology Bio-physical

Bio-physical examples?

Anthropology Socio-cultural Bio-physical

Socio-cultural examples?

... but ultimately anthropologists seek to study phenomena in terms of both physical and cultural aspects...

... but ultimately anthropologists seek to study phenomena in terms of both physical and cultural aspects as well as other aspects, for e.g., the psychological...

“Eating Disorders are about feelings, not food.” The Eating Disorder Foundation

... and that ultimately involves lots of subdisciplines...

physical measuring

physical measuring incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... tools... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... tools... art history / literature... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... historical, psycho-, socio- linguistics... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... Bio-physical | tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... historical, psycho-, socio- linguistics... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... Cultural Bio-physical | tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... historical, psycho-, socio- linguistics... incl. ethnographic analogy

physical measuring incl. ethnographic analogy participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... Cultural Bio-physical | Anthropology tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... historical, psycho-, socio- linguistics...

holism

some examples of holistic comparative work include...

In some ways this chart business is all about Theory but key theory that is important to the understanding of Anthropology

holism theory

holism theory including results of interdisciplinary study, esp. with history, art history, political science, sociology, business and economics...

physical measuring incl. ethnographic analogy participant / observation body size / shape,... body structure / function... evolutionary psychology... Cultural Bio-physical | Anthropology tools... art history / literature... kinship, religion,... historical, psycho-, socio- linguistics...

And finally, we have the last main characteristic of anthropology...

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique -- involving “participant observation” Main Characteristics of Anthropology

What anthropologists can you name who are famous for their fieldwork?

Note two terms in the “major characteristics of anthropology” listing...

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4. fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” Main Characteristics

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4. fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” Main Characteristics what’s the difference?

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool data gathering technique — participant observation (fieldwork)

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool Anthropologists use other tools... like questionnaires, interview schedules, psychological tests, documentary filming... but “participant observation” is a characteristic technique use by anthropologists, especially cultural anthropologists (ethnologists)

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool Anthropologists use other tools... like questionnaires, interview schedules, psychological tests, documentary filming... but “participant observation” is a characteristic technique use by anthropologists, especially cultural anthropologists (ethnologists) NOTE:

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = approach = tool how you use information

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool other tools include things like...

What are some of those techniques?

1. culture as a primary concept 2. comparative method as major approach to the study of human behavior 3. holism or the study of "humankind" as a whole, as a primary theoretical goal 4.fieldwork as a primary research technique, involving “participant observation” = how you get information Main Characteristics = tool questionnaires interview schedules videotaping using “unobtrusive measures” experimental manipulation after Marion Nestle, Food Politics, Rev. Ed., 2007, pp

Anthropologists often like to use a research “technique” based on “unobtrusive measures”... (either in the field or elsewhere)

“unobtrusive measures” analysis of data available supply data analysis (production + imported - exported) (goods available for consumption) composition analysis... analysis of video and photographic materials analysis of cultural artifacts lurking

You’ll see these and other techniques in the Angrosino text...

But most of all (generally) Anthropologists LOVE...

1. the four fields of general anthropology 2.culture as a primary concept 3.comparative method as major approach 4.holism as a primary theoretical goal 5.fieldwork as a primary research technique -- involving “ participant observation” Main Characteristics of Anthropology

Don’t forget about two difficult terms...

difficult terms

ethnography – scientific description of cultures (“a portrait of a people”) Glossary

ethno – graphy –graph from the Greek, meaning something “written” or “drawn”

ethnology – comparative study of cultures Glossary

ethn – ology – comparative study of cultures Glossary

ethnology – comparative study of cultures Glossary

ethology – comparative study of cultures Glossary

ethology – comparative study of cultures –scientific study of the social behavior of animals, especially in their natural environments Glossary

primatology – scientific study of the social behavior of primates, especially (non-human primates) apes and monkeys – a good e.g.... Glossary

Grand Central Publishing, 2006