Cultural Anthropology

Question 1

What is Cultural Anthropology?

Answer 1

Explore how cultures and society has developed

Question 2

Technology

Answer 2

• The more we live, the more complex technologies we see

Question 3

Technological diffusion

Answer 3

• Adoption of a technology from one culture to another
• Meets a perceived need
• It should fit with local customs, be prestiges, be a need and maybe have a authority endorse it

Question 4

Culture and Language

Answer 4

• Langage came from humans needing to communicate
• Helps us defend ourselves
• Words spread easily to countries through globalization

Question 5

Social Formations

Answer 5

• Some people see themselves as apart of a kinship while other see themselves as independent
• Provides human relationships (material status)

Question 6

Law

Answer 6

• How laws are formed and created
• How law impact human behavior and culture

Question 7

Legal anthropologist

Answer 7

• Examine human rights
• Look at global discourse between right and wrong

Question 8

Politics

Answer 8

• Political system contain part of power
• World events caused a shift in political systems
• Current political system in play can affect cultural belief, citizen repsiblty, Freedom of speech, association and influence or turn the behavior based on politics

Question 9

The Economy and Economic System

Answer 9

• We need economic system to get resources
• A postindustrial economy is canada
• Moved form manufacturing-based economy (farming, making tangible goods) to a service-based economy (providing services, medical, educational, social)
• Postindustrial economies are global, with items produced in various parts of the world

Question 10

Religion/Belief Systems

Answer 10

Each culture has their own beliefs

Question 11

Cultural anthropologist

Answer 11

• Study formation of culture/religion and how religion impacts/influences human behavior and adapt to local and global changes.

Question 12

Conducting Anthropological Research: Field Work

Answer 12

People work in dry, dirt filled places
- Many rocks and warm
- Working standard is met
- People work together
Feildwork is an important part of being an anthropologist
- Learn about humans and their ancestors
- Explore the real world

Question 13

What do Anthropologists Study?

Answer 13

Evolution of humans
Remains of the past
Origin
Development

Question 14

Functionalism

Answer 14

A society is stable when social institutions (schools, politics, family) all meet the needs of citizens

Question 15

Cultural Materialism

Answer 15

Materials or conditions within the environment influence how culture develops

Question 16

Feminist Anthropology

Answer 16

You must not believe that white men is the standard and use it to judge others

Question 17

Postmodern Anthropology

Answer 17

• skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the relative truths of each person”

Question 18

Infrastructures:

Answer 18

: the basis for all other levels and includes population, biological needs, resources

Question 19

Structures:

Answer 19

refers to a society’s economic, social, and political organization

Question 20

Superstructures

Answer 20

related to ideology/views/values, religion, art, culture

Question 21

Cultural Materialism Example

Answer 21

• In canada we have winter
• (physical environment/infrastructure)
• This is going to impact our culture/sports (superstructure).

Question 22

Kinship

Answer 22

human relations through mating, genealogy, adoption

Question 23

Fictive kinship

Answer 23

are constructed kinships such close family friends who are like family, Godparents

Question 24

Patriarchy

Answer 24

sets the father as the head of the family and as such is typically responsible for decision making and earning an income.

Question 25

Matriarchy:

Answer 25

is the feminine equivalent of patriarchy.