Cultural Anthropology

Culture Material Objects Ideas, Values, attitudes

Defining Culture Everything that a people have, think, and do as members of a society Material CultureNonmaterial culture Things a society makes and uses Clothing, tools, etc A societies ideas and values Thin is attractive, marriage is between 1 woman and 1 man

American Culture project Chose two artifacts that you think reflect American culture (one must be an example of material culture, the other of non-material culture). Write a short paragraph explaining each of your artifacts (4-6 sentences for each). Pictures must be in color and neatly glued to the blue/red paper you received in class Text must be typed Due Friday

Material Culture This Louis Vuitton cake is representative of American culture because it stands as a symbol of our materialism and obsessive need to display wealth, or so-called class and sophistication. The fact that someone chose to use a corporation’s signature monogram on a birthday cake (thus, thereby admitting, that who they are is what they buy) reflects this idea. This clearly demonstrates the American phenomena of designer worship and our persistent self-association with material goods.

Nonmaterial culture This song is an example of American nonmaterial culture because it reflects our societies values of conformity and structure. The song expresses the idea that Americans are obsessed with living an empty, rigid life, where success is measured by material gain and the passing of shallow milestones. Ones life is only complete when the superficial, money- orientated, suburban, ‘American Dream’ has been achieved.

Terminology Ethnology – Paper written by anthropologists that objectively analyzes the culture of a society Ethnocentrism – Belief that ones own culture is superior and that the judgment of other cultures is made by owns own standards Cultural relativism – When you judge a culture by its own standards and norms

Terminology Culture shock – Psychological disorientation experienced when attempting to operate in a radically different cultural environment Taboo – Behavior that a culture greatly disapproves of –Taboos are not universal across cultures

Culture is learned Enculturation – process by which humans learn culture

Culture changes Invention & innovation – A new idea or improvement on an old one

Culture changes Cultural diffusion – ideas from one culture are spread to another

Culture’s Influence on the body Can affect biological processes and bodies Concepts of beauty affect body modification