Test 1 Vocab Flashcards
Cabinet of Curiosities
• Study of flora and fauna minerals
• Wealthy expected to have cabinet of curiosities
These cabinets helped fill museums of natural history. Origin of museum history display.
Edward Tylor
• 19th century British anthropologist (armchair anthropologist)
• “Culture is that complex who,e which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by ,an as a member of society” (Tylor 1871)
(Culture is learned)
Famous for defining culture.
Culture
• The learned traditions and customs that form the basis of the beliefs and behaviors of the people exposed to them.
Complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
Is LEARNED.
Franz Boaz
• “father of modern anthropology”
• Conducted field work in northern Canada, northwest coast of North America
• Taught at Columbia university
• Founded the first PhD program
• Established anthropology programs elsewhere in response
• Lived amongst the people he studied, conducted field work
• Asked two questions:
1. “Why are the tribes and nations of the world different?”
2. “How have the present differences developed?”
• Advocated the four field approach: bringing together different scientists and anthropologists, reconcieving different fields into one field
• Advocated using the scientific method to develop and test theories about human behavior
Four Field Approach (Sub Disciplines)
• Cultural anthropology • Biological anthropology • Linguistic anthropology • Anthropological archaeology Applied Anthropology (the 5th sub discipline)
Cultural Anthropology
- Describing, analyzing, interpreting, explaining and cultural similarities and differences
- Ethnography: fieldwork in a particular culture. (Lives in the culture)
- Ethnology: comparative study of ethnographic data from multiple cultures to a different end
Biological Anthropology
- Study of human biological variation in the past and present (medicine, chemistry, etc)
- Uses data in human body
- Paleoanthropology - the study of human evolution
- Human genetics
- Human growth and development
- Biological plasticity - biological change and adaptation to stress
- Primatology - study of non human primates (living and extinct)
Linguistic Anthropology
Explains how language shapes… • Communication • Social identity and group membership • Cultural beliefs and ideologies • Cultural representations of natural and social worlds
* Historical linguistics: study of variation over time * Sociolinguistics: relationships between social and linguistic variation. How our social relations change language.
Anthropological Archaeology
- The study of human culture through material remains
- Reconstructing past human societies and cultures and seeing what they are like through recovering materials that were left behind (artifacts)
- Artifacts: (potsherds, tools, ornaments)
- Refuse (garbage)
- Burials
- Structural remains
- Entire settlements and their
Armchair Anthropology
Early anthropology used by people who collected data from others (missionaries, explorers, colonial officials) to propose theories about other cultures. Mainly focused on “primitive” cultures. Based on biased accounts. 1. Written by people with own agendas (seek fortune, capture territories, missionaries)
2. Western people thought of themselves as naturally superior
Applied Anthropology
5th sub discipline; application of anthropological data, perspectives, theory, and methods to identify, assess, and solve contemporary social problems.
Palaeoanthropology
The study of human evolution.
Medical Anthropology
How illness is socially constructed, diagnosed, managed and treated.
- Disease - a scientifically identified threat such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or other pathogen
- Illness - a condition of poor health as felt by an individual, and which is culturally constructed
- The incidence and severity of disease and illness vary between cultural and socio economic groups
Anthropological Archaeology
The study of human culture through material remains. Reconstructing past human societies using the things they left behind..(artifacts; refuse {garbage}; burials; remains of structures; entire settlements and their distribution on the landscape)
Forensic Anthropology
Identification of deceased individuals; age, sex, stature, ancestry, trauma, disease; cause of death; work with state and international legal teams - homicides - war crimes, political violence.
Development Anthropology
Focuses on social issues in, and the cultural dimension of, economic development. Help to plan and guide and carry out development policy.
Cultural Resource Management
Archaeologists, architectural historians and historical architects. Managing places of archaeological, architectural, and historical interest. Compliance with the environmental and historic preservation laws.
Holistic
Anthropology is a holistic discipline (Holistic = complete).
Ethnography
Fieldwork in a particular culture.
Ethnology
Comparative study of ethnographic data.
Subculture
Not a part of the dominant culture. Gothic.
Globalization
Interaction and integration among the people companies, and governments of different nations.
Ethnocentrism
Judging other cultures using ones own cultural standards; the error of viewing ones own culture as superior.
Cultural relativism
The principle that all behavior should be evaluated in the context of the culture in which it occurs.
