An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
On Strange Customs--Strange to Us, That Is
What do Anthropologists Do?
• Typical Stereotype: People wearing a pith helmet in khaki out to study exotic cultures (upper right)
• Of course, the lower cartoon by Gary Larson describes the more likely stereotype. . . (lower right)
• The caption: “Anthropologists! Anthropologists!”
Do Anthropologist Wear Beards?
• Stereotypically, male anthropologists wear beards
• I didn’t—but in Guatemala back in 1969-70, if you looked like Fidel Castro [upper right], they shot first and didn’t bother to ask questions later. “No quarter for comunistas, you see.”
• In 1970, Carlos Arana Osorio, the so-called Butcher of Zacapa, was elected president (lower right; in the second photo, that’s him to the right, consulting with U.S. military advisors in Zacapa).
• So you can guess I was squeaky clean when it came to shaving, except for a mustache!
Have you ever wondered why. . .
• Some cultures are warlike like these Vanuatu tribesmen. (Top photo)?
• Some tribes have guests over for dinner—and the guests are the dinner?
• Of course, we’re much more civilized that that, aren’t we?
• Look how our weapons have improved over spears and arrows!
• Why, we even had a Miss Atomic Bomb to celebrate our high technology!
• (Have you wondered about our own culture?)
Hasn’t It ever occurred to you. . .
• Why polygamy is practiced?• (You were maybe expecting two
women married to one man?)• Guess what! The upper photo does
portrays polygamy of a kind. • It’s called polyandry—one woman
married to two men • So does the lower photo of this
ethnic Tibetan coup—I mean trio
Haven’t these things piqued your curiosity. . .
• How it is that people practice sorcery (above)
• And actually believe all that stuff?
• Or how half a million would go halfway around the world
• For the sake of a rock called the Kabala Stone?
Or how about these. . .
• Why is it that, to some peoples, this witchetty grub is like a steak dinner?
• Or why is it that, instead of using pigskin for football games,
• These Afghan horsemen prefer to use a calf’s carcass for their version of polo?
Human Diversity: A Fact of Life Despite our Funny Ideas
• We have funny notions about “primitive” cultures (cartoon)
• Caption: “Let’s contact that professor who wanted to study us
• And eat the students he sends to do the research”
• But many cultures are peaceable (such as this Semai man of Malaysia)
• They abhor war and avoid violent behavior, suppress anger
• Even Semai children avoid games that are competitive
On Human Diversity: Making a Living
• Some cultures hunt and gather, such as the !Kung women bringing in edible roots (upper photo)
• Our ancestors did the same for up to 200,000 years ago
• Other peoples farm, such as these Iroquois women (lower drawing)
• Still others may raise only cattle, horses, or other large animals
• Nowadays most of us do nonfarm work full time (sound familiar?)
On Human Diversity: Marriage
• Take marriage:
• Some cultures are monogamous—like ours
• Serial monogamy is one subtype—as suggested in this cartoon
• Q: Why are men attracted to women who smoke?
• A: “Serial monogamy: when she dies, I go to the next one”
• Others don’t wait—they practice polygyny, as in this Nigerian household
• You’ve already seen that others practice polyandry (in Tibet)
On Human Diversity: Economics• Most economies are built on gift
exchange called reciprocity• Among the !Kung (above), the
unlucky hunter could still count on meat
• He would return the favor when he bagged an animal
• Other societies rely on open air markets
• Such as this one in Chichicastenango, Guatemala
On Human Diversity: Politics, Law, and War
• Most non-Western societies manage social control without government
• Above: Nuer leopard skin chief , who mediates disputes, usually over cattle
• But he cannot force parties to agree nor can he enforce existing agreement
• Often, mediation fails leading to warfare (Dani of Western New Guinea, below, prepare for battle)
• Revenge is often obligatory out of fear of vengeful spirits
On Human Diversity: The Supernatural
• Different peoples perceive the unseen world in different ways
• Islam and Christianity have the same prophets: Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ
• Both call for the triumph of good over evil• Hindu/Buddhist Balinese see the concepts
as forces cancelling each other out• Gods are the forces of creation• Demons (right) are the forces of decay and
destruction• Human role: to keep the forces in balance
or else the world will come to an end
What Anthropologists Do
• Explaining diversity and similarities is the job of anthropologists
• Why do some peoples have one spouse while others have many?
• Why do some cultures have governments and their codified laws while others manage without them?
• Why do some peoples share their resources while others do not?
• These are all questions that anthropologists address.
Welcome to Cultural Anthropology
• This term, you will be looking at the different cultures around the world
• You will find out why some marriages are arranged
• And make perfect sense to East Indian families
• Even if this woman and man may never have met each other before. . .
So What is Anthropology?
• Glad you asked!• Let’s look at the etymology. . .• “Anthropology” is derived from two Greek terms:• Anthropos: “man” or by extension “human”• Logos: “study of” or “science of”• But any field from medicine to law to history is
about humans• So we have to narrow the term down a bit
Anthropology: Study of Culture
• We might define anthropology as the holistic and comparative study of humankind and its cultures
• Anthropologists observe people’s behavior of a culture in the field (As in Quintana Roo, SE Mexico)
• Or reconstruct their behavior in archeological sites (As at this Inca site near Machu Picchu, Peru)
• Or study people’s language that carries their culture
• Or study their biological capacity for culture. . .
• But what is culture? That is up next.
Top Related