What is Anthropology?What is Anthropology?

What is Culture?What is Culture?• for anthropologists and other for anthropologists and other

behavioral scientists, behavioral scientists, culture is culture is the full range of learned human the full range of learned human behavior patternsbehavior patterns.  . 

• The term was first used in this The term was first used in this way by the pioneer English way by the pioneer English Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in his book, in his book, Primitive Culture,Primitive Culture, published in 1871.  published in 1871. 

• Tylor said that culture is "that Tylor said that culture is "that complex whole which includes complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of by man as a member of society."  society." 

Edward B. Tylor

What is Canadian Culture?What is Canadian Culture?

• What you define as Canadian culture?What you define as Canadian culture?

• What symbols are connected with What symbols are connected with Canadian Identity?Canadian Identity?

• What is the difference between the What is the difference between the Cultural Mosaic and the Melting Pot?Cultural Mosaic and the Melting Pot?

• Is it cool to be “Proud to be Is it cool to be “Proud to be Canadian?”Canadian?”

The RantThe RantA Product of Molson CanadianA Product of Molson Canadian

Hey. I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader.Hey. I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader.And I don't live in an igloo, or eat blubber, or own a dogsled. And I don't live in an igloo, or eat blubber, or own a dogsled. And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice. they're really, really nice. I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, NOT American. and I pronounce it 'ABOUT', I speak English and French, NOT American. and I pronounce it 'ABOUT',

NOT NOT 'A BOOT'. 'A BOOT'. I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing. DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation, AND THAT THE keeping, NOT policing. DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation, AND THAT THE

BEAVER BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL. IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL. A TOQUE IS A HAT, A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH, AND IT IS PRONOUCED A TOQUE IS A HAT, A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH, AND IT IS PRONOUCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!!! 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!!! CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS! THE FIRST NATION OF CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS! THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY! AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA! HOCKEY! AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA! MY NAME IS JOE!! AND I AM CANADIAN!!!!!!!! MY NAME IS JOE!! AND I AM CANADIAN!!!!!!!!

Thank you. Thank you.

The Rant ContinuedThe Rant Continued

• Why do you believe The Rant was so Why do you believe The Rant was so effective as an advertising effective as an advertising campaign?campaign?

• Do you believe it became more than Do you believe it became more than just a commercial to sell beer? Whyjust a commercial to sell beer? Why

• What does this say about Canadian What does this say about Canadian Culture with respect to our southern Culture with respect to our southern neighbours?neighbours?

AnthropologyAnthropologyWhat is Anthropology?What is Anthropology?

•Anthropology is the broad study of Anthropology is the broad study of humankind around the world and humankind around the world and throughout time. throughout time. 

•It is concerned with both the It is concerned with both the biological and the cultural aspects biological and the cultural aspects of humans. of humans. 

Included in anthropology are Included in anthropology are four main subdivisions: four main subdivisions: Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology• Mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human adaptability Mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human adaptability

and variation, primatology, and the fossil record of human evolutionand variation, primatology, and the fossil record of human evolution

Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology• Culture, ethnocentrism, cultural aspects of language and communication, Culture, ethnocentrism, cultural aspects of language and communication,

subsistence and other economic patterns, kinship, sex and marriage, subsistence and other economic patterns, kinship, sex and marriage, socialization, social control, political organization, class, ethnicity, gender, socialization, social control, political organization, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and culture changereligion, and culture change

ArchaeologyArchaeology• Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world; major trends in Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world; major trends in

cultural evolution; and techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and cultural evolution; and techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of past societiesanalyzing material remains of past societies

Linguistic AnthropologyLinguistic Anthropology• The human communication process focusing on the importance of socio-The human communication process focusing on the importance of socio-

cultural influences; nonverbal communication; and the structure, function, cultural influences; nonverbal communication; and the structure, function, and history of languages, dialects, pidgins, and creolesand history of languages, dialects, pidgins, and creoles

Participation-Participation-observationobservation

• Anthropologists have learned that the Anthropologists have learned that the best way to really get to know best way to really get to know another society and its culture is to another society and its culture is to live in it as an active participant live in it as an active participant rather than simply an observer.  rather than simply an observer. 

• By physically and emotionally By physically and emotionally participating in the social interaction participating in the social interaction of the host society it is possible to of the host society it is possible to become accepted as a member. become accepted as a member. 

Dian FosseyDian Fossey

• Dian Fossey believed Dian Fossey believed that in order to study that in order to study gorillas effectively she gorillas effectively she had to immerse had to immerse herself with them in an herself with them in an effort to get them to effort to get them to accept her presenceaccept her presence

• She was murdered in She was murdered in her cabin at Karisoke her cabin at Karisoke on December 26, on December 26, 1985. Her death is a 1985. Her death is a mystery yet unsolved. mystery yet unsolved.

Why do we need Anthropologists? Why do we need Anthropologists? Don’t they tell us what we already Don’t they tell us what we already know to be true?know to be true?

• Intuition is believing something to Intuition is believing something to be true because a person’s emotions be true because a person’s emotions and logic support itand logic support it

• Intuition is not proof of fact – this is Intuition is not proof of fact – this is why we need anthropologists – they why we need anthropologists – they prove or disprove what we BELIEVE prove or disprove what we BELIEVE to be trueto be true

KinshipKinship

• Kinship is a family relationship based on Kinship is a family relationship based on what is a culture considers a family to bewhat is a culture considers a family to be

• The family unit can vary depending on the The family unit can vary depending on the culture in which the family livesculture in which the family lives

• Anthropologists have concluded that Anthropologists have concluded that human cultures define the concept of human cultures define the concept of marriage in three ways: mating marriage in three ways: mating (marriage), birth (descent) and nurturance (marriage), birth (descent) and nurturance (adoption)(adoption)

Methods used by Methods used by AnthropologistsAnthropologists

• Participation-observationParticipation-observation

• Collection of statisticsCollection of statistics

• Field interviewsField interviews

• Rigorous compilation of detailed notesRigorous compilation of detailed notes

• Fieldwork compiled by anthropologists Fieldwork compiled by anthropologists is know as an “is know as an “ethnographyethnography””

Anthropological Schools of Anthropological Schools of ThoughtThought

FunctionalismFunctionalism• The theoretical school of Functionalism The theoretical school of Functionalism

considers a culture as an interrelated whole, considers a culture as an interrelated whole, not a collection of isolated traits.not a collection of isolated traits.

• The Functionalists examined how a particular The Functionalists examined how a particular cultural phase is interrelated with other cultural phase is interrelated with other aspects of the culture and how it affects the aspects of the culture and how it affects the whole system of the society. whole system of the society.

• The method of functionalism was based on The method of functionalism was based on fieldwork and direct observations of societies. fieldwork and direct observations of societies.

StructuralismStructuralism

• Structuralism assumes that cultural forms Structuralism assumes that cultural forms are based on common properties of the are based on common properties of the human mind. human mind.

• This theory states that humans tend to see This theory states that humans tend to see things in terms of two forces that are things in terms of two forces that are opposite to each other - eg. night and dayopposite to each other - eg. night and day

• The goal of Structuralism is to discover The goal of Structuralism is to discover universal principles of the human mind universal principles of the human mind underlying each cultural trait and custom. underlying each cultural trait and custom.

• This theoretical school was almost single This theoretical school was almost single handedly established by Claude Levi-handedly established by Claude Levi-Strauss.Strauss.

Cultural MaterialismCultural Materialism

• Technological and economical factors Technological and economical factors are the most important ones in molding are the most important ones in molding a society – known as materialisma society – known as materialism

• Determinism – states that the types of Determinism – states that the types of technology and economic methods that technology and economic methods that are adopted always determine (or act are adopted always determine (or act as deciding factors in forming) the type as deciding factors in forming) the type of society that developsof society that develops

Activity…Activity…

• Read the article, Read the article, The Secrets of The Secrets of Haiti’s Living DeadHaiti’s Living Dead and answer the and answer the assigned questions in your notes. assigned questions in your notes. You may work with a partner. You may work with a partner.

Anthropology and Social Anthropology and Social ChangeChange

Questions an anthropologists would Questions an anthropologists would ask… ask…

Are there patterns to social change?Are there patterns to social change?

What ideas or explanations do we use to describe What ideas or explanations do we use to describe what causes a culture to change?what causes a culture to change?

Do these explanations apply to the modern world?Do these explanations apply to the modern world?

Is social change caused by single factors, or many Is social change caused by single factors, or many interrelated factors?interrelated factors?

Government change? Value change? Technological Government change? Value change? Technological change? Environmental change?change? Environmental change?

EnculturationEnculturation

• A process by which members of a culture A process by which members of a culture learn and internalize shared ideas, values learn and internalize shared ideas, values and beliefs (also called socialization)and beliefs (also called socialization)

• Anthropologists classify culture into four Anthropologists classify culture into four parts to better understand the nature and parts to better understand the nature and effects of changeeffects of change– Physical EnvironmentPhysical Environment– Level of TechnologyLevel of Technology– Social OrganizationSocial Organization– System of SymbolsSystem of Symbols

Sources of Cultural ChangeSources of Cultural Change

According to anthropologists, there are three According to anthropologists, there are three main sources of cultural change:main sources of cultural change:

• InventionInvention – new products, ideas, and social – new products, ideas, and social patternspatterns

• DiscoveryDiscovery – finding something that was – finding something that was previously unknown to a culturepreviously unknown to a culture

• Diffusion Diffusion – the spreading of ideas, – the spreading of ideas, methods and tools from one culture to methods and tools from one culture to anotheranother

Examples?Examples?

Methods of Cultural Change Methods of Cultural Change • Most cultural change occurs when Most cultural change occurs when

there is interaction between two or there is interaction between two or more societiesmore societies

• There are three broad methods There are three broad methods which cultures interact and change:which cultures interact and change:

1.1.DiffusionDiffusion2.2.AcculturationAcculturation

– IncorporationIncorporation– Directed ChangeDirected Change

3.3.Cultural EvolutionCultural EvolutionRead p. 49 – 52 in the textbook and identify a definition and Read p. 49 – 52 in the textbook and identify a definition and

example for eachexample for each

1.1. DiffusionDiffusion– Occurs when one culture borrows Occurs when one culture borrows

cultural symbols from anothercultural symbols from another

2.2. AcculturationAcculturation– Results from prolonged contact between Results from prolonged contact between

two cultures, where they exchange two cultures, where they exchange beliefs, symbols and customsbeliefs, symbols and customs• IncorporationIncorporation – free borrowing of symbols, – free borrowing of symbols,

etc.etc.• Directed ChangeDirected Change – one culture defeats or – one culture defeats or

otherwise controls another and forces them otherwise controls another and forces them to change parts or all of its cultureto change parts or all of its culture

3.3. Cultural EvolutionCultural Evolution– Cultures evolve according to common Cultures evolve according to common

patternspatterns