Welcome to Cultural

Anthropology!

Professor Janaki Natalie Parikhjnparikh@verizon.net

Todays Agenda Icebreaker & Introductions

Go over syllabus/course outline

Introductory lecture

Icebreaker Activity

Find someone who Speaks at least 3 languages (trilingual) Has lived in another country for at least 8 months of

their adult life knows the other 3 subfields of anthropology can identify the subject of this iconic image

(w/o looking in the book! =-) Can identify the writer who coined the phrase white

mans burden (Hint: (author of the Jungle Book & Rikki Tikki Tavi)

Icebreaker Answers Trilingual students? Bilingual? Quadru-lingual? Living in another country for ~8 mos. or longer is

akin to the experience of doing anthropological fieldwork

Subfields? Archaeology, biological/physical, linguistic

Who is she? Rosie the Riveter: usedto encourage that it was

their patriotic duty to join the work force Rudyard Kiplingwell learn more about the

phrase, the poem he wrote by the same name & the extent to which its damage was felt for several decades

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/a/ab/Disneys_The_Jungle_Book_Poster.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tv.com/users/Dark_sageX/profile.php&h=400&w=278&sz=40&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=F0Qxr0AXLIJLfM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=86&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djungle%2Bbook%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cakboliv.wordpress.com/2008/01/31/rikki-tikki-tikki-tikki-tik-tik-tik-my-mother-hissed/&h=475&w=360&sz=63&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=SVw1lwRsVYwsKM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drikki%2Btikki%2Btavi%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Interview & present a classmate:Now, please interview a fellow classmate regarding: Name (ask for last name too, I will be checking off roster

as we go) Yr. of study & Course of Study Swap e-mail addresses (& phone #s if comfortable) Name story (Do they have a nickname, what does their

name mean, or were they named after someone?)

What is anthropology?

roots of the word, Greek origin:

anthropos = man

logos = word

Thus, the synthesis would be:

Knowledge about mankind, or modernized:

the science of humankind

What makes it unique from other disciplines that fit the same

description?

Celebrating Human Diversity

http://personal.monm.edu/ealtekru/native-american.jpghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.snowwowl.com/images/dresses/v3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.snowwowl.com/naartdress2.html&h=726&w=478&sz=302&hl=en&start=16&tbnid=j-zc5QeeRzESpM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnative%2Bamerican%2Bdress%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DNhttp://www.friendlyplanet.com/closeup.html?imgSrc=images/sarawak-cultural-village-artists-big.jpg&title=Sarawak%20Cultural%20Village%20artists&copyright=Sarawak%20Cultural%20Village

Buzz words Diversity: there are many difft ways of human,

part of the beauty of being human Studying diversity: making sense of the complex &

rich systems of meaning that make up culture Holistic: what does that mean?

whole of human conditn: past, present & future Celebrating diversity & understanding

universals This, of course, is a tall order! Organized into subfields to manage such an all

encompassing focus

Subfields Archaeology: human cultural diversity in the

prehistoric past (midden) Biological/Physical: human genetic variation,primatology,

human evolution Linguistic: not so much about the history & origins of

languages & lang. families, rather focus on lang. as pwr., examining issues of class, gender, race, sexual orientation & lang.

Cultural: human cultural diversity in the present day

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/12/10/indiana-jones-crystal-skull.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/12/am_poster_post_indiana_jones_a.php&h=667&w=450&sz=71&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=Im_PfcgTIzgHOM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIndiana%2BJones%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000HT3P60.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mediablvd.com/forums/index.php%3Fshowtopic%3D39232&h=500&w=383&sz=37&hl=en&start=8&usg=__cQJ8FZ8mQ5jMdFpWzJMOD_-ixIg=&tbnid=w1AMM904SMNbmM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbones%2Btelevision%2Bseries%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Dimensions of Anthro Academic/Theoretical (Ivory Tower): focus is on

research, accumulation of knowledge, formulation of theories, removed from the practical

Applied/Action (Advocacy): what is advocacy? focus is on putting that knowledge to work,

utilizing it to act as advocates & help promote culturally sensitive programs & policies

Of these two, one tends to predominate, which one?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.unprsouth.com/IvoryTower%2520Cover.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.unprsouth.com/BUY%2520ONLINE%25206.htm&h=1297&w=962&sz=280&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=67gAWWuOeJ_58M:&tbnh=150&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dacademic%2Bivory%2Btower%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

Applied Anthro Example Medical anthro: has helped revolutionize our

approach to medicine. Heard of acupuncture?Was illegal until a few decades ago, today not

only is it legal, many insurance cos will cover your visits.

Med. Anthro research & advocacy has established efficacy of traditnal practices,

Increasing awareness of drs bedside mannerPlayed a role in minimizing stigma against

various illnesses

What is culture?Brainstorm: art/music

food

Values/beliefsLanguage &

communication

politics

Styles of dress

Gender & sexuality

culture

marriagekinship

Culture Is

1. Learned: youre not born w/ it, its not hardwired Enculturatn: process by which a child learns his/her

culture2. Shared: its not about one individ. person, culture is

shared by a group of ppl., shared understandingsDifft levels to culture of lrger & smller scale? Subcultures, (brainstorm)

Culture Is(Contd)3. Symbolic: we assign meaning to things & they become

cultural ,ex: our flag: stars & stripes stand for? Colors?

White: Purity/Innocence, Red: Hardiness/Valor & Blue: Justice/Perserverance

Wedding ring: is there an integral connectn btwn the ring & the actual marriage?

4. Dynamic: Not fixed, always changing Original a symbol of a married , called? Bhindi mangal sutra

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/american-flag-2a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/%3Fp%3D7409&h=480&w=640&sz=55&hl=en&start=3&usg=__pMRyqDmbEm32A-tFnLUL8TCsknU=&tbnid=HXYlGLwl61xuFM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Damerican%2Bflag%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.magentajewellery.com.au/images/jewellery/princess_cut_pave_engagement_wedding_ring_set.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.magentajewellery.com.au/magenta_jewellery_hand_crafted_unique_gold_platinum_silver_wedding_engagement_rings.htm&h=298&w=400&sz=30&hl=en&start=10&usg=__mSMk5zHhTzY8TowcZVhtI-tiPPI=&tbnid=w3C720cqno6gDM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwedding%2Bring%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/2006/1101060626_400.jpghttp://www.indianetzone.com/2/images/zari-bindi_813.jpghttp://www.indianetzone.com/2/images/bindis_813.jpghttp://www.ninajeweler.com/Productimages/7.2g-.66ct-1580sm.jpg

Culture Is (contd)4. Culture is dynamic (contd) Cultural constructions: the set of cultural meanings we

attribute to a concept, the way we actively create the reality of that concept

Ex.s: gender, race5. Culture is adaptive & maladaptive (oft. Simultaneously)

Ex.: Chinas one child policy, how is it adaptive?Maladaptive?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EirCpAByc2U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EirCpAByc2U&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EirCpAByc2U&feature=relatedhttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41F6TKZQGML.jpg

Culture is(contd) Adaptive & maladative (contd): @ home: automobiles How are they adaptive? Maladaptive?6. Taken for granted: we dont realize the degree to which

it shapes & guides our perceptns & worldviewlike a set of eyeglasses that put the world into focusEx.: Food

http://importfood.com/media/insect_plate_l.jpghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lastrow.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/provecho.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lastrow.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/save-the-planet-eat-a-bug/&h=273&w=410&sz=26&hl=en&start=9&usg=__q2ls9l_nPN-x2zkkJJIdABWFbYI=&tbnid=bOSgZqZ3nWv2nM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dinsects%2Bas%2Bfood%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://www.cringel.com/node/132http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://polosbastards.com/pb/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/warning-sign.gif&imgrefurl=http://polosbastards.com/pb/warning-signs/&h=216&w=245&sz=4&hl=en&start=3&usg=__Nn5w3YzF_7g7U9ZMewiSfMr4OEM=&tbnid=rE76B2orThNzcM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwarning%2Bsign%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Culture is W/in our context: veal as food & factory farming:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOWQOXeJyUM&

feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHXA1LLB_I&fe

ature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOWQOXeJyUM&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOWQOXeJyUM&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHXA1LLB_I&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHXA1LLB_I&feature=relatedhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://polosbastards.com/pb/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/warning-sign.gif&imgrefurl=http://polosbastards.com/pb/warning-signs/&h=216&w=245&sz=4&hl=en&start=3&usg=__Nn5w3YzF_7g7U9ZMewiSfMr4OEM=&tbnid=rE76B2orThNzcM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwarning%2Bsign%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Culture is

Ethnocentrism: judging another culture/tradition by our own cultural standards/values

Cultural relativism? attempting to suspend judgment when viewing another cultl practice/tradition

Another q to ask: is it poss. to take cultural relativism too far? Examples?

Drawing the line w/ human rights violations

ethnocentrismcultural relativism

Why study culture? Multicultural world: in todays mod. global economy,

highly likely that the co. you work for will be multinatl, Multiculturalism: celebratn of cultural diversity, the

belief that such diversity strengthens a nation rather than threateng it

melting pot: discuss

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://our.ptsem.edu/UploadedFiles/Student%2520Services/Multicultural_Relations/Globe2.jpg&imgrefurl=https://our.ptsem.edu/ics/Campus_Life/Multicultural_Relations/Commitment_and_Direction.jnz&h=424&w=416&sz=83&hl=en&start=20&usg=__l89r31-v3HcNq2FpFcJC9yrYVwU=&tbnid=hp1dFCG1rD1XAM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmulticulturalism%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Why study anthro? Studying diversity helps us to better understand

ourselves Emphasizes cross-cultl teamwork Contributes to developmt of cognitive complexity

& helps w/ reconciling cultl contradictns Provides well rounded foundation for active

listening & facilitates social acuity

Nacirema article Miner: a pinnacle in the soc. Sciences As we read, think about the beliefs & practices of

the Nacirema & what your thoughts are about them, bear in mind cultl relativism

Who are the Nacirema? Lets spell it backwards A..M..E..R..I..C..A..N, yes we are the nacirema! This article illustrates the probs of exoticization Exoticization is dehumanizing even when its not

meant to be negative

Welcome to Cultural Anthropology!Todays AgendaIcebreaker ActivityIcebreaker AnswersInterview & present a classmate:What is anthropology?Celebrating Human DiversityBuzz wordsSubfieldsDimensions of AnthroApplied Anthro ExampleWhat is culture?Culture IsCulture Is(Contd)Culture Is (contd)Culture is(contd)Culture isCulture isWhy study culture?Why study anthro?Nacirema article