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Anth1000C Overheads 1 What did we do last time? How do we differentiate ourselves from animals? What makes us human? What makes us human? 1 Humans use tools (together with some animals) What makes us human? 2 Humans communicate through complex and abstract concepts: • We have languages • Humans use symbols What are symbols? Symbols are behaviours, images, words that express ideas which are too complex to be stated directly. example: flag What makes us human? 3 Humans organize themselves, their surroundings and the world into conceptual categories. Organizing the world conceptually One way of imposing order on human experience: binary oppositions = contrasting conceptual pairs E.g.up/down, sun/moon, men/women Us and them Most human groups make a distinction between themselves and other groups with whom they come into contact (either those with whom they compete or those with whom they co-operate. Us and them We and they / us and them We make classifications We try to give order to the world we live in. Organizing the world Human groups tend to identify themselves with their environment. E.g. animals or physical features that provide them with their livelihood) The Key Questions What is anthropology? What is cultural anthropology? What is culture? What is anthropology? Anthropos: human being -ology: study or science Focus of anthropology Diversity of the ways human beings – establish and live their social lives in groups. – give meaning to their experiences. The Fields of General Anthropology Archaeology Investigating human past by excavating and analyzing material remains. Examines past social structures and institutions. The “Garbage Project” – Rathje and Murphy, 1992 Physical or Biological Anthropology The study of human and non-human life, past and present Many physical anthropologists research animals in order to understand human origins and behaviour Links with archaeology especially in the question of when human beings first emerged as Homo sapiens Linguistic Anthropology Originally emerged when researchers began documenting disappearing Native American languages Relevance today? – Language is still changing – Scope broadened to include aspects of communication • media, email, popular music, advertising, etc Applied anthropology Involves the use or application of anthropological knowledge to help solve social problems A separate field? – Just like theory, application should be a valued part of every field of anthropology – All anthropologists should forcibly and directly address the effects of globalization • (Hackenberg, 2000) Socio-cultural anthropology The study of humankind everywhere, throughout time. Seeks knowledge about what makes people different and about what they all have in common. Cultural Anthropology Tries to look at cultures from the “outside” Encompasses all aspects of human behavior and beliefs and includes: – making a living, distributing goods, reproduction, political patterns, religious systems, forms of communication and expressive aspects of culture such as art What is the distinguishing feature of modern anthropology? Approach rather than the subject matter. Not limited to the study of the 'exotic other'. Cultural Anthropology Today Research is often done in urban, industrial areas. Extended fieldwork continues to distinguish cultural anthropology from other disciplines. Research extends across many disciplines (law, music, religion, etc.). Objectives of Cultural Anthropology Understand how dimensions of human life relate (religion, art, communication, family). Understand cultural change. Make the public aware of cultural differences. What is culture? Culture is diversity of ways in which humans establish and live social lives in groups. Culture is not a thing, should not be treated as a noun. It is more realistic to say 'people live culturally rather than they live in cultures' (Tim Ingold 1994). About culture Culture is acquired and learned ( knowledge, experience,symbols,direct and indirect,conscious and unconscious). Culture is shared. Culture is symbolic. Culture is integrated. Humans are creative, they act in culture creatively. Culture is adaptive and maladaptive. Cultural Anthropology’s Distinctive Features ETHNOGRAPHY – means “culture writing” – provides a first-hand, detailed description of a living culture – based on personal experience ETHNOLOGY – the study of one topic in more than one culture • marriage forms, economic practices, religion, etc – uses ethnographic material Anthropological Perspectives Holistic -No dimension of culture can be understood in isolation. Comparative - Generalizations about humans must consider the range of cultural diversity. Relativistic -Cultures cannot be evaluated based on the standards of another culture. Cultural Relativism (1) The idea that a culture must be understood in terms of its own values and beliefs and not by the standards of another culture – gained by exposure to “other” ways with a sympathetic eye and ear to appreciating differences Cultural Relativism (2) Critical – poses questions about cultural practices in terms of who is accepting them and why – recognizes oppressors, winners, victims – a critique Absolute – whatever goes on in a culture must not be questioned by outsiders – Holocaust? Value of Anthropology 1 Encourages understanding and tolerance among citizens of different nations. Allows us to compare our lives with those of people living in different times and places. Value of anthropology 2 Allows us to see the development of human biology and culture over time. Provides knowledge about human evolution, prehistoric populations, and tribal societies. Local cultures Canadian Anthropology Roots in both British/European tradition of social anthropology and American cultural anthropology Shaped by ethnohistorical and advocacy work with First Nations peoples First full-time anthropological appointment at University of Toronto in 1925 The KEY Questions Revisited What is anthropology? What is cultural anthropology? What is culture?