Introduction to Introduction to AnthropologyAnthropology

Anthropology involves the study of human culture, the socially Anthropology involves the study of human culture, the socially shared and learned system of beliefs, values, customs, language, shared and learned system of beliefs, values, customs, language, and material goods necessary for people to function as members and material goods necessary for people to function as members

of a particular social group. Twentieth-century American of a particular social group. Twentieth-century American anthropology is distinguished by the four-field approach. These anthropology is distinguished by the four-field approach. These

four fields are four fields are archaeologyarchaeology, the exploration of past human , the exploration of past human cultures through their material remains; cultures through their material remains; linguisticslinguistics, the study of , the study of language; language; physicalphysical anthropology, the study of human biology and anthropology, the study of human biology and

evolution; and, evolution; and, culturalcultural anthropology, the study of the customs anthropology, the study of the customs and traditions of human social groups. The descriptive accounts and traditions of human social groups. The descriptive accounts of cultures written by anthropologists are called ethnography. of cultures written by anthropologists are called ethnography.

Some Founders of American Some Founders of American AnthropologyAnthropology

• In the next few slides you’ll see photos of In the next few slides you’ll see photos of some of those who shaped the fieldsome of those who shaped the field

Franz Boas• Franz Boas (1858-1942), the

German-born "father of modern American anthropology“ challenged the prevailing nineteenth-century race-based, evolutionary approach to culture, which considered white Western industrialized societies the pinnacle of human progress. Boas separated race from cultural factors in his theories and laid the groundwork for cultural relativism, which requires that a culture be understood on its own terms, without a hierarchy ranking some cultures as better or more advanced than others.

• Historical Particularism

1925 in Samoa• Margaret Mead specifically went to study

young girls – with a general question: was so-called “normal” behavior in girls normal at all?

• On her return from Samoa, Mead, married to her first husband, Luther Cressman, met Reo Fortune, a psychologist from New Zealand.

• Fortune was just finishing field work in New Guinea

• Margaret Mead on a canoe with Manus children, 1928.

• Reo Fortune, photographer.

www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/field-manus.html

• Margaret Mead carrying a Manus girl, probably Piwen, on her back, 1928.

• Reo Fortune, photographer.

• Mead and Fortune in Manus

• Mead’s research in Manus focused on children. She collected over 35,000 drawings by children.

• She found these drawings realistic,and not tending to the supernatural. She published her findings and contradicted the prevalent developmental psychology of the day, of Piaget, which stated that animism is a universal stage of childhood thought.

Catching Fish in a Net" by Kilipak, New Guinea,

male age 13

• Gregory Bateson• Margaret Mead• Leo Fortune (1933)

• While here, Fortune and Mead teamed up with British Anthropologist Gregory Bateson.

• Bateson would become Mead’s third husband.

• Mead continued to research and publish in the areas of gender and childhood and growing up, and introducing these ideas into popular culture.

1. Understanding the Field 1. Understanding the Field

Anthropology is a Social Science, but it is Anthropology is a Social Science, but it is Methodologically and PerspectivallyMethodologically and Perspectivally

Examples of other Social Science Fields: History, Examples of other Social Science Fields: History, Geography, Sociology, Economics, etc.Geography, Sociology, Economics, etc.

For Anthropology the method of data collection is For Anthropology the method of data collection is DIFFERENT – it is obtained by FIELDWORK.DIFFERENT – it is obtained by FIELDWORK.

This gives a different perspective, which is “up This gives a different perspective, which is “up close and personal”close and personal”

3. Understanding Participant-3. Understanding Participant-ObservationObservation

• This is the Method of Anthropological InquiryThis is the Method of Anthropological Inquiry• It requires It requires

• Long time in fieldLong time in field• Language competencyLanguage competency• Rapport with informantsRapport with informants• Living in the cultureLiving in the culture

THIS IS BY DEFINITION specific, local, intimate, THIS IS BY DEFINITION specific, local, intimate, everyday information for which you get feedback everyday information for which you get feedback from informants.from informants.

The Anthropological Perspective The Anthropological Perspective works against works against

GENERALIZATIONGENERALIZATION• Because we get our data from individuals, it is Because we get our data from individuals, it is

variable and generalizations are much harder variable and generalizations are much harder arrive at. This method thus provides a check arrive at. This method thus provides a check on overgeneralizations.on overgeneralizations.

• One of these generalizations is Ethnocentrism.One of these generalizations is Ethnocentrism.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

• What is it???What is it???• The practice of judging another society The practice of judging another society

by the values and standards of oneby the values and standards of one’’s own s own society.society.

• What Does This Mean?What Does This Mean?

Mapping our World (view)Mapping our World (view)

Mercator Projection

Galls-Peters ProjectionGalls-Peters Projection

The Hobo-Dyer MapThe Hobo-Dyer Map

World Population MapWorld Population Map

A Good Example of Ethnocentrism

Introduction to AnthropologyIntroduction to Anthropology

• The Four SubfieldsThe Four Subfields• Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology• ArchaeologyArchaeology• Linguistic AnthropologyLinguistic Anthropology• Cultural Anthropology (Ethnology)Cultural Anthropology (Ethnology)

Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology• • concerned mostly with humans as biological concerned mostly with humans as biological

organismsorganisms

• • studies evolution of studies evolution of homo sapienshomo sapiens as a mammal as a mammal from its origins millions of years agofrom its origins millions of years ago

• • studies present-day human variationstudies present-day human variation

• • also studies near-relatives--esp. monkeys and also studies near-relatives--esp. monkeys and apes other than humansapes other than humans

Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology• PaleoanthropologyPaleoanthropology

• Fossil huntersFossil hunters• Bones and teethBones and teeth

• PrimatologyPrimatology• MonkeysMonkeys• ApesApes

• Human VariationHuman Variation• Physical traitsPhysical traits

• Hair color, eye color, skin colorHair color, eye color, skin color• Body sizeBody size• GeneticsGenetics

ArchaeologyArchaeology• the study of material remains, usually from the past, to the study of material remains, usually from the past, to

describe and explain human behaviordescribe and explain human behavior

• The Study ofThe Study of• Artifacts and material culture from prehistory Artifacts and material culture from prehistory

and historic timesand historic times• • In historic archaeology artifactual evidence can supplement In historic archaeology artifactual evidence can supplement

the written record the written record • • examples:examples: study of Plimoth Plantationstudy of Plimoth Plantation study of garbage study of garbage

Linguistic AnthropologyLinguistic Anthropology• • studies human language in order to understand people's behavior and studies human language in order to understand people's behavior and

customs bettercustoms better • • studies the description of language studies the description of language OROR the history of languages the history of languages

•• languagelanguage: : one of the most distinctive features of being humanone of the most distinctive features of being human

allows transmission of culture, knowledge, and it does so allows transmission of culture, knowledge, and it does so intergenerationallyintergenerationally

within language, the scholar can discern the outlines of an entire within language, the scholar can discern the outlines of an entire cultureculture

EXAMPLE: Americans have a bunch of words for EXAMPLE: Americans have a bunch of words for moneymoney : : greenback, dough, cash, bucks, moolah, etc.greenback, dough, cash, bucks, moolah, etc.

    Papuans have only one word for itPapuans have only one word for it

Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology

• study of culture AND cultures in the study of culture AND cultures in the present from a comparative and present from a comparative and historical perspectivehistorical perspective

• Based on FIELD WORK –Based on FIELD WORK –• First-hand observationFirst-hand observation• Long-term interaction and Long-term interaction and

discussion with members discussion with members (informants) of a culture(informants) of a culture

FIELD FIELD WORKWORK

• Margaret Mead Margaret Mead on a canoe on a canoe with Manus with Manus children, 1928.children, 1928.

• Reo Fortune, Reo Fortune, photographer. photographer.

www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/field-manus.html

• Margaret Margaret Mead carrying Mead carrying a Manus girl, a Manus girl, probably probably Piwen, on her Piwen, on her back, 1928. back, 1928.

• Reo Fortune, Reo Fortune, photographer.photographer.

Holistic, Interdisciplinary, and Global Holistic, Interdisciplinary, and Global PerspectivesPerspectives

• Holism – looking at a culture as a systemHolism – looking at a culture as a system• Disciplinary Cross over between Disciplinary Cross over between

Cultural Anthropology and Psychology, Cultural Anthropology and Psychology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology Economics, Political Science, Sociology and Historyand History

• Comparative Approach looks at a given Comparative Approach looks at a given culture in a global and historical culture in a global and historical frameworkframework

Holistic PerspectiveHolistic Perspective• holisticholistic perspective: describing and analyzing all perspective: describing and analyzing all

cultural and societal institutions in the broadest cultural and societal institutions in the broadest context, to understand their interconnections and context, to understand their interconnections and interdependenceinterdependence

    • • this is a major, fundamental principle in all anthro this is a major, fundamental principle in all anthro inquiriesinquiries

    • • going for the "wider perspective"going for the "wider perspective"

    • • obtaining the "thick description"obtaining the "thick description"

    • • documenting and accounting for all of the "contexts"documenting and accounting for all of the "contexts"

Cross-Cultural ComparisonCross-Cultural Comparison

• • EX: EX: Household choresHousehold chores

    • • Australian aborigine woman--Australian aborigine woman--about 20 hours a about 20 hours a week to fulfill all dutiesweek to fulfill all duties

• • American woman in the 1920s--American woman in the 1920s--about 52 hoursabout 52 hours • • American woman in the 1970s--American woman in the 1970s--about 55 hoursabout 55 hours

     •  • presents sufficient evidence to undercut the presents sufficient evidence to undercut the hypothesis that modern conveniences in Western hypothesis that modern conveniences in Western society has made living easiersociety has made living easier

The Product -- EthnographyThe Product -- Ethnography• Cultural Anthropologists write up their FIELD NOTES Cultural Anthropologists write up their FIELD NOTES

– their observations, interviews, conversations, etc – their observations, interviews, conversations, etc FROM THE FIELD.FROM THE FIELD.

• Then, they use many sources, such as Then, they use many sources, such as other other ethnologies, ethnologies, sociological works, theoretical works, sociological works, theoretical works, and also writings by non-anthropological observers and also writings by non-anthropological observers (historians, folklorists, natives, novelists, etc.), oral (historians, folklorists, natives, novelists, etc.), oral histories, accounts left by explorers, missionaries, histories, accounts left by explorers, missionaries, and traders, and such records as land titles, birth and traders, and such records as land titles, birth and death records, and other archival material.and death records, and other archival material.

• These all go together into the detailed, systematic These all go together into the detailed, systematic narrative called an ETHNOGRAPHY narrative called an ETHNOGRAPHY