Anthropology Essay Topics

ReflectionIntroductionToAnthropology

ThroughoutthisIntroductiontoAnthropologycourse,wecoveredmanyimportanttopicsandtheir relevancetoanthropology.Almosteveryweek,wefocusedononespecifictopicandcompleteda fieldexerciserelatingtothattopicThroughthesefieldworkexercises,Ilearnedthatthinkingonthe spot,beingconstantlyawareofyourownbias,andwritingefficientlyareallimportantskillsthatare essentialforanthropologists.Althougheachskillpresentsitsownchallenges,suchasspeaking withoutpreparation,recognizingyourownbias,andturninginflawedfieldexercises,itisimportant toworkthroughthosechallengestoimprovethesecrucialskills.

OnethingIlearnedaboutanthropologythroughdoingallofthefieldworkexercisesishowcriticalit istobeabletothinkonthespot.Thiscameupinalmosteveryfieldexercisewherewehadto interviewotherpeople.EventhoughIhadplannedouttheexactquestionsIwantedtoaskthepeople Iwasinterviewing,theintervieweeswouldoftengiveanswersthatrequiredadditionaloreven differentquestionsthanfromwhatIhadplanned.Inordertoproperlyaddresseverythingthatthe peopleIinterviewedsaid,Ihadtocomeupwithrelatedquestionsthatwouldbetterfitwhatthey spokeabout.Forexample,inthefourthfieldexercise,IneededtopressAnnaforspecificexamples ofthingsshefeelssheneedsmoretimetodo.Atfirst,shehadonlysaidthatshehasenoughtimefor somethingsandnotforothers,

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PracticingAnthropologyWhenIthinkofanthropology,inmymindIthinkofaresearcherof differentculturesorthestudyofpeople,places,andthehistoricallifeofothersfromaroundthe world.Never,wouldIhavethoughtthatIpracticeanthropologyinmypersonallife.Thispaperwill describesituationsinmylifethatledmetounknowinglypracticedanthropology.Igrewupina homethatwasverymuchdysfunctionalandfullofhypocrisyThiswasdifficultformebecauseI wasoftenconfusedaboutwhatwasexpectedfromme.Thecultureofmysurroundingswasthatof entitlement,prejudism,racism,andethnocentrism.Theyvaluednothingandtookwhateverthey couldfromgovernmentfundingandfromotherswhileoftenputothersshowmorecontent Asaparent,IensuredthatmychildrenwereraisedwiththepolaroppositeofsocialstructurethatI hadreceived.Whenmychildrendowell,Ipraisethemanddisplaytheirhardworkforeveryoneto see.Asmychildrengrewup,Itaughtthemaboutmyreligiouscultureandallowedthemtochoose theirownreligiousornon–religiouspath,(eventhoughImaywantthemtohavethesamebeliefsas Ihave)WhenIwaselevenyearsold,mybiologicalmotherhadrequestedIcomelivewithher Despitemyexcitementtogolivewithmymother,inmymind,ImovedtoaforeigncountrywhereI feltasifIwereanalien.ImovedfromEugene,Oregonwithapopulationofmostlywhite CaucasianstoIndio,CaliforniahighlypopulatedwiththeHispanicculture.Iwastheminorityinmy neighborhoodandinmyschool.Indiowasacityfullofenculturation,andthechildrenpracticedthe sameculturesastheirparentsandtheirparent'sparentsItwashighlypopulatedwiththeHispanic culture.EveryonespokebothEnglishandSpanishbutSpanishwasusedmostoften.WhileIdidnot learnthelanguage,Iwasintriguedbyeverythingaroundmesuchastheprimaryreligionmost practiced(Catholic),thelanguage,food,music,andthefamilyvaluesThesocialstructureofthe HispanicpeoplewassomethingIwasnotfamiliarwith,thesewereverylargefamilieswho cherishedoneanotherandtheirreligionwastakenserious.Theyvaluedhardworkandplay.Itruly enjoyedlivingwithinthe

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AnthropologyReflection

FollowUpReflection,BenParfitt

DuringthisAnthropologyConvention,Ihavelearnedmanythingsontheirduties,whatthey discover,researchandhowtheycompareittomodernlifethesedays.Iwouldstartoffbysaying thatthisassignmenthelpedmebecomemoreconfidentabouttheknowledgeofcommontype Anthropology.Itwasinterestinglearningaboutbones,discoveriesandespeciallydifferentcultures, tribesandbeliefsthatpeopleareincludedinacrosstheworldthatIneverknewexisted.Mygroup createdafish,stingraylikespeciesthatwenamedtheGuacaPucaThisspeciesswimsinthesand likeafishinwater,itisverylarge,livedintheSaharadesertandbecameextinctmillionsofyears agowhenthesunbecamemorepowerfulinthatareaandtheirhabitatwaslostbecauseofthedry soil.Wecreatedaslideshowfulloftheinformationaboutourspeciestointroducetotheclass.This wasthemostresourcefulwaybecauseitprovidesslidesthatwecangroupinformationinan organizedfashionWewantedouraudiencetoseevisualsofeachslidebecausemanypeopleinthis worldarevisuallearners.Kahootisaneasyelectronicwaytogettheclassinvolvedwithyour presentation.Italsoteststoseeifpeoplehavebeenpayingattentiontoourdetailandkey informationaboutourspecies.

IwasaskedifIweretoleaveaboxfilledwithitemswecommonlyusetodayforfuture Anthropologiststofindhundredsofyearsfromnow,whatwouldIleave?Welltoday'sgeneration hasevolveddrasticallyinthepastcentury,sotherewouldbeahugedifferenceonwhatwewould putinthatboxtodaycomparedtothe1800'sIwouldplaceacellphone,anewcar,ourwritten language,commonsportsequipment,andalistofourcommonlaws(someofthemostimportant ones)inthebox.ThefollowingreasoningbelowiswhyIwouldplacethosecertainitemsinthebox. Firstly,thecellphone.Theseelectronicdevicesarewhatmosttoallteenage,adultsandadolescents areconstantlyusingthroughouttheday.Thesesmallitemsarepartofoureverydaylife,andhas changedcommonformofcommunicationmassivelyInthefuture,theywillmostprobablyhavea devicethatismuchmoreadvanced,andpeople

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AnthropologyTodayInsocietytoday,thedisciplineofanthropologyhasmadeatremendousshift fromthepracticesitemployedyearsago.Anthropologistsoftodayhaveaverydifferentfocusfrom theirpredecessors,whowouldfocusonrelatingproblemsofdistantpeoplestotheWesternworld. Inmoremoderntimes,theirgoalhasbecomemuchmorelocal,infocusingonhumanproblemsand issueswithinthesocietiestheylive

Thispaperwillidentifytherolesanthropologiststodayplay,suchaswheretheyperformthebulkof theirwork,andwhatitistheydoinbothproblemsolving,aswellaspolicymakingItwillalso identifytheissuestheyarefacedwith,thatis,thenatureoftheproblemstheyaddress.Ethics haveshowmorecontent

Thisjobwouldentaildealingwiththedevelopmentofchildrenandadolescentsbystudyingthem, publishingreports,andtrainingthemtobetterprepareforlifeintheworkplace.

(SfAA,2000)Basedonthedecisionsandrecommendationsofsomeoneinthisposition,actionswill betakentoshapeyounglives.Personsinthisrolewouldhavetosolvemanyproblemsinvolving relationshipsandunderstandingoftoday'syouth.Severaljobsofthesamenatureofurban developmentinvolvenationalsurveys,case–studiesinvolvingasampleofthelocalpeople,anda seriesofinterviewsallhelpinformingideasonwhichanthropologistsbasetheirdecisionsfor developmentonItwouldbetheresultsofthesetypesofdatacollectionsbywhichplansand policiessuitableforeveryonecanbeformed.Therearealsomanypositionsbeingopenedinthe businessworldfortheanthropologisttofill.

Thedisciplineofanthropologytargetsstudy,andtoday'sbusinesswantmanydifferentaspectsof theirmarketstudied.Forexample,anthropologistsmaybeaskedtostudyemployeeproduction,and waystoimproveit.Theymaybeaskedtofindoutthroughmarketresearchdifferentwaystochange oraltertheirproducttofittheoptimumdesiresofthegeneralpublic.(Cassell,2000).Itisthese kindsofpositionsandthesekindsof

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AnthropologyThesis

Anthropology Thesis

Humans,asaspeciesarenotunique.Wearesimilartomanyothergroupsofanimalsinpractically anywayimaginableWemaybeslightlymoredevelopedbutwearenotuniqueWeshare characteristics,values,traitsandourhistorywiththem.Thesesimilaritiesareespeciallycommon betweenhumansandothermajormammalslike,rodentsandprimates,andthefactthatour medicinesandbeautyproductsaretestedonthemprovesthathumansare,inmanyways,are connectedtoanimals.Weshouldnotconsiderourselvessuperiorjustbasedonthefact,thatwehave 'opposablethumbs'oralarynxtoofferouropinioncomparedtotheothercreaturesaroundus.

Culture

Theconceptsthatwegenerallyconnectwithcultureare–Art,theater,literature,music,religion, architectureandcuisine.Clearlythough,nootherspecieshaveshownsignificantsignsofhaving anythingapproachingthislevelofsocialrefinement.Buttheprimaryideaofculturecanalsobe definedasthewaysinwhichagroupperformstheirdailyactivitiesandwhattheyrevolvearound, learnedfromoneanotherandpasseddownthegenerations,andotherprimatespecies,likemonkeys, greatapesetc.undoubtedlyhavepracticesthatareuniquetospecificgroups,suchasacertainway ofgreetingeachother,showing...showmorecontent...

Accordingtoresearchers,anAsianelephantlivinginaSouthKoreanzoohadlearnedtouseits trunkandthroattomimichumanwords.Theelephantcansay"hello,""good,""no""sitdown"and "liedown,"allinKorean.Theelephanthoweverdoesn'tappeartoknowwhatthemeaningofthese wordsis.Scientiststhinkhemayhavepickedupthesoundsbecausehewastheonlyelephantatthe zoofromwhenhewas5towhenheturned12,leavinghimtobondwithhumansinsteadofhisown

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Therearemanyunansweredquestionsinthefieldofanthropologytothisdateduetothefactof undocumentedinformationforthousandsofyears.Thereisahugequestionwhetherornotculture evolvessimilartoevolution.Thisisaquestionthatneedsinformationthatisn'theldbyhumanity fromthousandsofyearsagotostudyfrom.Therearealsothebiggerunansweredquestionsthat needsinformationthatdatesbacktothebeginningofhumansonearthlike,wasthereoneuniversal language?

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Whatisanthropology?Thisisaquestionthatcanbeansweredinnumerousways,butwearegoing todefineitassimpleaspossible.Ifwebreaktheworddownintoitstwocomponentsitmeansthe studyofhumanbeings"Anthropo"meanshumanbeingsorhumankindand"logy"or"logia"is Greekforthestudyorknowledgeofsomething.Whenweputitalltogether,itisthestudyofhuman beingswhichcanbeverybroad.Anthropologycanbebrokendownintofoursubfields:physical anthropology,archaeology,linguisticanthropology,andculturalanthropology

Physicalanthropologyisallofthephysicalaspectsofbeinghumanlikehumanevolutionandhuman variation.Peoplecomeindifferentheights,weights,andetc.Thenextsubfieldisarchaeologywhich isthehumanculturesinthepast.Examplesoftheseareartifactsandarchitecturelikepyramidsand buildings.Thethirdsubfieldofanthropologyiscalledlinguisticanthropologyisthestudyof languageThelastsubfieldiscalledculturalanthropologyanditisfocusedonthestudyofcultural variationthroughouttheworld.Culturalanthropologycanalsobecalledethnology.Twoofthe subfieldsthatIthoughtwereevidentinmostofthemovieswewatchedwereculturalanthropology andlinguisticanthropology

Oneofmyfavoriteexamplesofculturalanthropologywasfromthebeginningofthesemesterinthe movieTheGodsMustbeCrazyWhenXiwasventuringtotheendoftheearthtodropofftheEvil Thing,hehas

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Anthropology:AnthropologyAndAnthropology

Iwould'veneverimaginedtheendlesscareersthatareavailabletoanthropologymajors,before takingProfessorSharratt'sIntrotoAnthropologycourse.ThethingsthatIhavelearnedin anthropologyhaveopenedmymindtoavarietyofdifferentcareerpathsthatispossiblewitha degreeinanthropology.Anthropologymajorsgoofftoaplethoraofcareerswiththeirdegreesin anthropologyAnthropologyis"thestudyofhumankindinalltimesandplace"Anthropologyhas fourdifferentsubfieldswhichinclude:Physical/Biological,Socio/Cultural,Linguistic,and Archeology.Thiswiderangeofastudyallowsforonetostandouttocompaniesinavarious amountofindustriesincludinglaw,health,andoftentimesbusinessSomejobdutiesshowmore content...

Forensicanthropologistdocumentandinvestigatehumanremainsfrompastexperiences.Forensic anthropologistsarealsoveryhelpfulwhenmassdisastersoccurandalargeamountofpeopledie duetoacertainevent.Tersigni–Tarrant,Teresa,andShirleystatehowforensicanthropologytakes placeduringamassdisasterbystating"Thestaffworkinginthedisastermorguehasseveral responsibilities:documentationandprocessingofremains,identificationofthevictim,examination ofremainsformedicolegalinterpretations(e.g.,causeofdeath),anddocumentationoftheoverall process"(444).Forensicanthropologycanbeveryvitaltoacultureorcountrybecauseitallowsfor onetounderstandhowsomeonehaspassedaway,whichcouldpossiblyeffectthesamecultureor countryinthefutureForensicanthropologisttakethetimetoexaminethecauseofone'sdeathand helpacertaincultureorcountryunderstandaparticularoutcome.Thereareforensicanthropologists employedbytheFBI.AnotherpossiblecareeropportunityinanthropologythatIranacrossthat intriguedmewasanexhibitdesignerExhibitdesignersaremainlyemployedatmuseumsTheirjob dutiesincluderesearching,educating,anddesigninginamuseumsetting.Exhibitdesignersare responsibleforthepreservationofanthropologyrelateditemssuchashumanremainsandpast objects.Inthesearchforanexhibitdesigner

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TheImportanceOfCulturalAnthropology

Anthropologyisthesocialsciencesdisciplinethatlookstounderstandhumanity.Inthisdiscipline therearesubdivisionssuchasculturalanthropologyandprimatology,andthebeautyof anthropologyisthatyoucanmorethanyouthink,linksomeofyourlifeeventtosome anthropologicalcontext.

CulturalanthropologyisoneofthefourfieldsofanthropologyItlooksforpatternsofbeliefsor behavioursinagroupandhowtheyareconnected.Anthropologistlooksatdifferencesand similaritiesbetweendifferentgroupsanddifferentcultures.Theyobtaintheirdatathroughfield workThereisactuallytwomethodofforanthropologisttostudyacultureofagroup;ethnography andethnology.Ethnographyisadetaileddescriptionofaparticulargroupbasedontheinformation yougetwithfieldwork.Mostanthropologistactuallygolivewiththisparticulargroupforacertain amountoftimetogetthemoreinformationpossibleandwritethemostdetailedandaccurate descriptionofthisgroup.Theothermethod,ethnology,isastudyofdifferentculturesfromcross culturalcomparisonInthismethod,theygeneralizedalotandtheyusingtheinformationofsome ethnographicstudiesalreadydone.

ImaginethatIhavechosentopursueresearchculturalanthropologyandthatIhavereceiveda researchgranttofundmystudy,IwillchoosetofocusontheindigenouspeopleinCanada(Métis andInuit).Iwouldliketoknowwhythispeoplehavedecidestoliveinparticular

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ReflectionPaperOnAnthropology

WhenIfirstbegantakingAnthropologyatthebeginningofthesemester,Iwasnotexactlysure whattoexpect.Iquicklylearnedanthropologyisatopicthatcoversalittlebitofeverything.We beganthesemesterwithlearningaboutdifferentcultures,tomedicine,andallthewaytoraceand ethnicity.Foreverycareerfield,thereisalwayssomethingtolearnfromanthropologythatpertain tospecificjobsAnthropologyteachestheemployeefieldsthebackgroundofvariousculturesthey mightencounterandteachesthemhowtocommunicatewithdifferenttypesofpeople.Asanursing major,therearesomanyunitsIcanusetohelpbettermyselfinmycareerfield.Therearesomany topicsthathavehadanimpactonmeasIprepareformyfutureNotonlyhasthemedicaland healthcareunitsimpactedme,butalsotheculturesandcommunicationhelpmegetabetter understandingofotherpeopleandhowtorespondtotheirculture.Theveryfirstunitwasallabout culture.Ilearnedexactlywhatcultureisandwhatmakesupaculture.Ifounditveryinterestingat howmanydifferentculturesthereare.EvenintheWestGeorgiaarea,therearesomanydifferent culturesaroundusIhadneverrealizedjusthowdiversethissmallcollegedownisManytimes,at thebeginningoftheunit,IthoughtthatthisunitwouldnothaveasmuchtodowithmebecauseI assumedwewereallsimilar.Whilethatmaybetruetoacertainextent,theculturewegrowupin playmajorroles

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Anthropologyprovestobesatisfyingandintellectuallyfulfillingtomanyinthefield. However,therearealsomanychallengesandbumpsintheroadalongtheway.NapoleanA. Chagnonand

ClaireSterkfacedmanyofthesechallengesthemselves.DuringhisfieldworkwiththeYanomamo, ChagnonfacedmanychallengesinteractingwiththenativesChagnoncouldnotpractically communicatewiththepeopleuntilaboutsixmonthsafterhearrived.Henotes?thehardestthingto livewithwastheincessant,passioned,andoftenaggressivedemandstheywouldmake.?An exampleofthisisthenativesthreateningwithashoutsuchas;?Ifyoudon?ttakemewithyouon yournextboattriptoWidokalyateri,I?llchopaholeinyourcanoe!?While...showmorecontent... Developingarelationshipandtrustwithwomenwhohadneverhadanytrustworthypeopleintheir liveswasquitechallengingaswell.Sterkwasoncefollowedhomebyoneofthewoman?spimps andhisfriends,andwasjumped.ThewomanadmittedtoSterkoverayearlaterthattheywantedto teachheralessonandsheknewaboutitallalongSterkdescribes?Atonetime,Ifelttruehatred foracrackhouseownerandwasunabletoadheretotherulesofcourteousinteractions.?(Sterk10) InGmelch?sworkwithethnography,hetookstudentstodofieldworkinBarbados.Hesayshis studentsusuallycomeoutoftheexperiencelearningmoreaboutthemselvesthantheydidaboutthe peopletheyweresupposedtobestudying.Thestudentslearnedmorethantheyeverhadabout intimacyinrelationshipsthantheyeverhadintheircultureTheycomparedittotheimpersonality anddetachmentoftheirsuburbanlives.Oneofthebiggestadjustmentsthestudentshadtomakewas adjustingtotheslow–paceofvillagelife.Manygotusedtobeingentertainedjustbysocializing withthepeopleandhadnodesiretoleaveifgivenachanceMaterialismdiminishedasthestudents begantofeelembarrassedthattheyhavesomuch.Thepeopleinthevillageshadsolittleandwere seeminglysomuchhappierthanAmericans.Thestudentsbecameminoritiesfortheirstayinthe villages.Onestudentsays?Ihaveneverbeenina

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Thoughwomenhaveplayedanintegralpartinthehistoryofthedisciplineofanthropology,itwas notuntiltheearly1970'sthatthefieldofanthropologyandgender,orfeministanthropology emerged.Sexandgenderroleshavealwaysbeenavitalpartofanyethnographicstudy,butthe contributorsofthistheorybegantoaddresstheandrocentricnatureofanthropologyitself.The substantialgapininformationconcerningthestudyofwomenwasperceivedasamalebias,a prejudicemademoreapparentbecausewhatlittlewomen–centeredfieldworkwasdonereceived insufficientattentionfromtheacademiccommunity.Whileanthropologywasconsideredoneofthe moreegalitarianfieldsofstudy,itwasdominatedbywhite,Westernmaleswhoshowmore content...

OneofSlocum'scontemporaries,EleanorLeacock(1922–1987)chosetodifferentlyanalyzegender research,focusingondistinctionsinpowerasitrelatestosociety,theeconomy,andpolitics(2011: 397).SheconcentratedonNorthAmericannativesandaboriginalAustraliansandtheirchanging genderrolesastheresultofWesterninfluenceAnotherfeministtrendgaveemphasistogender identities,analyzingthewaysinwhichrace,classandgenderconverge.DavidValentine,bornin 1966,illustratessuchanemphasisinhisworkwhichconcernsthecross–culturalvariationsonthe westernizedconceptsofgenderidentityandsexuality,bywhichwecategorizesexualdesire (2011:398).Asevidencedbythevarietyofemphaseswithinthetheory,feministanthropologists werefullycommittedtoassessingallpreviouslyignoredfacetsofthesubjugatedfemalewithin numerousculturesworldwide.

Severaldecadesagotheideaofwomenassubordinatewasconsideredtobeauniversalitybythe aforementionedwhite,WesternmaleanthropologistswholeadthefieldDespiteananthropologist's endeavortobeunbiased,thefactisthesetraditionalanthropologistscamefromaculturewhere manyaspectsofhumanlifeweremaledominant.Thoughmanystudied

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CulturalAnthropology:PhysicalAnthropology

glossary

Anthropology:Itisageneralcomprehensivescienceofmaninthepastandpresentofanyculture. Thisisdividedintotwomainareas:physicalanthropology,dealingwithbiologicalevolutionand physiologicaladaptationofhumans,andsocialorculturalanthropologythatdealswithpeopleliving insociety,ieformsofevolutionoflanguage,cultureandcustomsAnthropologyusestoolsand knowledgeproducedbythenaturalsciencesandthesocialsciences.Aspirationofanthropological disciplineistoproduceknowledgeaboutthehumanbeinginvariousareas,butalwaysaspartofa societyThus,attemptstoencompassboththebiologicalevolutionofourspecies,developmentand lifestylesofpeoplewhohavedisappeared,thesocialstructuresoftodayandthediversityofcultural andlinguisticexpressionsthatcharacterizehumanity.

PhysicalAnthropology:Physicalanthropologyisprimarilyconcernedwiththeevolutionofman, humanbiologyandthestudyofotherprimates,usingworkingmethodsusedinthenaturalsciences.

Inotherwords,thestudyofmanconsideringitsnatureandculture

CulturalAnthropology:Thebranchofanthropologythatstudiesthecharacteristicsoflearned behaviorinhumansocieties,iescienceofhumanculture.Overall,itisthesciencethatstudiesthe origin,development,structure,characteristicsandvariationsofhumanculturebothpastsocieties likethoseofthepresent.Ethnography,ethnology,archeology,linguisticsand

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Anthropology

Anthropologywhatavulnerableobserveryouare!Youmaywellhavetojumpintothearmsofthe scientistsifyouaregoingtotrytokeepyourgrasshutattheacademy!––RuthBehar

Debatesontherolethereflexiveplaguethefieldofculturalanthropologyaspostmoderncriticsjoin thebandwagonattemptingtoclaimauthorityinthisdubiouslyrecognizeddiscipline.Inthe borderlinerealmbetweenthesciencesandhumanities,culturalanthropologyhastriedtofinda nicheinwhichitcancomfortablyrest.Formany,thishasbeeninbuildingafoundationofthe methodical.Ifanthropologycanclassify,categorize,andsynthesize,itcanassertitslegitamacyto theglaresofacademia.However,intheattemptstoshowmorecontent

Theanthropologistisnotadataclassificationmachine.Theanthropologistisahumanbeingwith specificangles,interpretations,andbackgroundRealityisperceptionByreadingethnographies,we arelearningfromother'sperception.Therangeofapproachesisspecificallywhatgivesthis disciplineit'srichnessanddepth.JohannesFabianinRememberingthePresent:Paintingand PopularHistory,comments,

Whichandwhosereality?Oncetheethnographerhasceasedtothinkthatbeingintouchwithreality andtruthisguaranteedbyfollowingtherulesofscientificinvestigation,theoutcomeofcontestsand confrontationscannotbeavictoryofonekindofknowledgeovertheother.(p304)

Fabianinthisethnographybeautifuldepictshisroletogivethereaderasenseofthedialogueand exchange.

Whentwoculturesinteract,theexchangeitselfrevealsinsight.Fabiandoesnotdismissthisinhis ethnographyLikeastonethrowntowater,theanthropologistcannotattempttostudythe environmentwithouttheacknowledgementoftherippleshe/shecreates.AnexampleofFabian's reflexivityisasfollows,

PerhapsTshibumbasensedmyincredibilityandimaginedtheexplanationsImightcomeupwith. ThatiswhyhemadesureIunderstoodwhathewantedtoaccomplishwiththispainting––tocreate akindofpresence.(p300)

Inthisexample,FabianshowsthereaderhowhispresencemayhaveaneffectonthedataWiththe useoftheword"perhaps",he

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Anthropology:AStudyOfHumanity

Generally,anthropologycanbedefinedasthestudyofhumanity.Thisincludeseveryaspectofthe humancondition:language,history,culture,biology,pastandpresent.Anthropologyisall encompassingandduetoitsbreadth,itcanbeconsideredbothastudyinhumanitiesandscience. However,anthropologyiseasilydistinguishablefrombothhardsciencesandhumanities.The aspectsthatdistinguishanthropologyliemostlyinthemethodologythatanthropologistsusetostudy humanbeings.Methodologyintheanthropologicalfieldnotonlyincludesthespecifickindofdata collection,butalsotheattitudethatresearcherstakeonastheyapproachtheirresearchaswellasthe mainideastheyaddressAnthropologistsaimtostudyhumanevolutionandcultureholistically, comparatively,andrelativisticallythroughfieldwork.Thewaythatanthropologistsutilizeand integrateeachaspectofthismethodologyallowsthemtoaddspecificitytothisbroadtopicandto setituniquelyasidefromallothers.Thewaythatanthropologistsconductresearchisgenerally believedtobewhatsetsanthropologyasidefromallotherhumanitiesandhardsciences. Anthropologistsholdfasttotheemphasisonfieldwork,whichisdefinedasdatacollectionwhilein contactwiththepeople,sites,andanimalsbeingstudied.Whileeachsubfieldofanthropology (linguistics,culturalanthropology,biologicalanthropology,andarchaeology)approachesfieldwork differently,typesoffieldwork

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1.Paleoanthropologyisthescientificstudyofprehistorichumansandrelatives.

2.Whichoneoftheseprimatesdoesnothaveamovableupperlip?B.lemurs

A.Orangutans

B.Lemurs CHumans

D.Monkeys

E.alltheabove

3LemursareStrepsirrhiniprimatesStrepsirrhinimeaningwetnose

4.DecidewhethertheprimateisanAnthropoid,Hominoidorneither. PrimateYourAnswer

SquirrelMonkeyAnthropoid Lemurneither GibbonHominoid GorillaHominoid Tarsierneither BonoboHominoid BaboonAnthropoid HumanHominoid

5.Ahuman'sspinehasanSshapedcurvewhilethespinesofapeshaveaCshapedcurve.

6Whatisthetypeofgripmonkeysandapesuse?Powergrip

7.AnAustralopithecusafarensisindividualcommonlyknownasLucylived3.5millionyearsago.

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Scientistshavetwodifferentideasonhowtoclassifyfossils.Whatarethenamesofthetwoideas? Lumpersandsplitters.

9Whatistheearliestculturetraitofhumanssupportedbyevidence?Toolmaking

10.WhichtwomodelsdoscientistsusetodescribehowH.sapiensevolvedfromH.erectus?A. Multiregionalandreplacement

AMultiregionalandreplacement

B.Multiregionalandgenetic

CReplacementandgenetic D.neitheroneofthe

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Forthepastcentury,Anthropologyhascometobeknownasastudyofaninfinitecuriosityabout humans.Notonlyconcernedwithaninterestinhumanbeingsandtheirdevelopements, Anthropologyismuchmorebroadinconceptoftryingtounderstandtherelationshipsbetween humanbeingsandallpossiblequestionsaboutthem.Anthropologyistryingtounderstandall aspectsofhumanbeingsthroughthebroaddiscovery,study,interpretationandinferenceofpastand presentculturalcharacteristics.Inapplingtheknowledgeaquired,onecangainanunderstandingof individualsinsociety,regardlessoftheresultingconclusionbeingrightorwrong.

Thescopeofanthropologyismuchmorebroadthanthatofotherdisciplinesofscience.

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Motivatedbythewilltoeliminateerrorandinaccuratetheory,Anthropologyseekstofindconsistent dataforanalysisofhumanexsistence.Byremovingskepticideals,Anthropologistscanforma widleyacceptedexplanationofhumandevelopementthroughtime

Tofurtheranalreadyin–depthapproachintothevalidetyofhumanexsistence,Anthropology providesaholisitcwayofjoiningtheculturaltraitsofhumans.Inefforttodefineacertianpeople, anAnthropologistmayuseseveralfactorsofthatpeopel'stradition.Thegeographyofanarea,the formationofapeoples'language,conflictingreligioussanctians,andthepoliticalhistoryofapeople arekeyfactorsinahumanexperience.Notonlystudyingavarietyofpeople,Anthropologydiscerns whysuchavarietyexsistsandhowadifferenciationbetweenpeopleandtheirhabitshasoccured.

Instudyingsuchspecificdetailsofperhapsonlyonearea,Anthropologistscangatherinformationto furtherthereasonsuchgreatcivilizationshaveexsistedduringtheagesoftime.Byalsousinga multifacetedsystem,Anthropologistsofrecentyearshavefoundthemeselvesspecializingin differentstudiesandbranchingthealreadydiversefieldofAnthropology.Investigatingpartcular areasofthediscipline,Anthropologistscentertheirattentiontowardadesignatedsub–fieldDespite this,Anthropologystill

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WhyStudyAnthropology?

Intro:Thestudyofanthropologyisimportantbecauseitgivesthepublicinsightastowhypeopleact thewaytheydo.Bystudyinganthropologytheworldcanhaveabetterunderstandingofdifferent culturesandwhypeoplehavedifferentnormsandvaluesIfpeoplehavemoreinsightonwhy individualsactthewaytheydowecanappreciateandrespectpeoples'choicesmore.Forinstance, insteadofpeoplelookingathijabsasarestrictingclothingitemthatwomenintheMiddleEastwear, ethnographicresearchcouldhelpthepublicunderstandthatwomencanwearhijabsbychoice However,anthropologyisinherently"othering"becausetypicallytheanthropologistisenteringinto acountryinwhichtheywerenotraisedandisobservingpeoplesday–to–daylives.Despitethe flawsofanthropology,Ithinktheresearchandfieldwork,whendoneaccurately,producesmore benefitsthanharm.

Pros:ItisimportanttorememberthateachculturehastheirownvaluesthatareincomparableA primeexampleoftwoculturesconflictingoverideasiswomenintheMiddleEastwearingahijab. WhatisliberatingforawomaninthewestmightbedifferentforawomanintheMiddleEast. Generallyspeaking,womeninthewestfeelliberatedbywearingwhatevertheywanttowear. WomenwhochoosetowearhijabsintheMiddleEastfeelliberatedinwearingthem.Womenfrom thewesttrytoimposetheirideasregardingliberationontootherculturesbutbeing ...Getmorecontent...

AnthropologyandItsBranches

Anthropologyisthestudyofhumanbeings,inparticularthestudyoftheirphysicalcharacter, evolutionaryhistory,racialclassification,historicalandpresent–daygeographicdistribution,group relationships,andculturalhistory.Anthropologycanbecharacterizedasthenaturalisticdescription andinterpretationofthediversepeoplesoftheworld.

Modern–dayanthropologyconsistsoftwomajordivisions:culturalanthropology,whichdealswith thestudyofhumancultureinallitsaspects;andphysicalanthropology,whichisthestudyofhuman physicalcharacter,inboththepastandpresent.

Anthropologyemergedasanindependentscienceinthelate18thcentury,itdevelopedtwo divisions:physicalanthropology,whichfocuseson...showmorecontent...

Forexample,paintingsonwallsoftombsmaythrowlightonthestatusofthepersonburiedthere. Suchpaintingsoftendepictpracticesprevalentinasociety.Studyofburialsitescan helparchaeologistsunderstandthereligiousbeliefsofagroupofpeople.

BiologicalAnthropology

Biologicalanthropology,alsoknownasphysicalanthropology,dealswithtracingthebiological origins,evolutionarychanges,andthegeneticdiversityofthehumanspecies.Intheprocess, biologicalanthropologistsstudyprimatebehavior,andanatomicalvariationsbetweenprimatesand humanbeingsinordertounderstandphysicalchangesthathavetakenplaceinhumansduringtheir evolutionaryjourneyfromapes.Theymayalsotakeupgeneticanalysisandanthropometricstudies tofindreasonsbehindthephysicaldifferencesbetweenpeopleofvariousgroups.

Besidesthesemajorbranches,anthropologyalsohasotherdivisionslikeforensicanthropology, medicalanthropology,andecologicalanthropology.Althougheachbranchisaspecializedfieldof study,theyareinter–related.Thisgivesanthropologistsanedgeoverresearchersfromotherfieldsin addressinghumanproblems,astheystudyhumanexistencenotinisolationbutintotality.

EvolutionOfMan–Whatisit?

Themoderntheoryconcerningtheevolutionofmanproposesthathumansandapesderivefroman apelikeancestorthatlivedonearthafewmillionyearsagoThetheorystatesthatman,

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Anthropology250March13,2012MidtermSection1:ShortAnswer2.Listandbrieflyexplainthe threegoalsofarchaeology.Howdotheyapplyanddifferfromtheearlierparadigmsof archaeology?*Thethreegoalsofarchaeologyarethestudyofculturehistory,reconstructpastlife ways,andunderstandculturalprocesses.Thestudyofculturehistoryistopiecetogetherthehistory ofhowculturechangesovertimeToreconstructpastlifewaysisacomplexprocessthatinvolvesa gooddealofanalysiswhichistofigureoutasmuchyoucanaboutthepeoplewholivedata particularsiteorcivilization.Tounderstandculturalprocessesentailstryingtofigureouthowand whymaterialculturehaschangedwhichhappensinshowmorecontent

IdonotwanttobenaïvebecauseIdobelievetherearethingsabouttherewestillhavenotcome acrossoranimalsthatwebelieveareextinct,butthesethingsarejustopeninterpretationswithno validproof.TheshowAncientAliensdoestendtotrickmesometimes;especially,withapart referencedfromthebibleaboutthecreationofmankind.Thegenesisverseline26states,"Then Godsaid,"Letusmakemankindinourimage,inourlikeness,sothattheymayruleoverthefishin theseaandthebirdsinthesky,overthelivestockandallthewildanimals,andoverallthecreatures thatmovealongtheground."Totallyblewmymindandhadmereallythinkaboutthistheory becausewhenyouthinkaboutwhatdoyoumeanbyletusandourimageistheiranotherworldout there,istheremorethanoneGod?Itreallyhadatapensivestate.Aconspiracytheorywouldbethe saying,"weneverlandedonthemoon"becausethereshouldbeonlyonelightsourceonthepictures andthereseemstobemorethanonelightsource.Also,thepictureoftheAmericanflagseemstobe wavingwhenthemoonisairless.15.Pleasediscussthreewaystodeterminetheage/sexofa skeletoninsomedetail(attachedintheback)Section2:1StratigraphicProfile(attachedinthe back).2.Answerthequestionslistedunderthemask.a.

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