Introduction to Anthropology

Nature of Anthropology
ANTHROPOLOGY IS A UNIQUE SOCIAL SCIENCE

Time Depth Global Focus Comparative Approach Holistic Four Field Approach Core Concept of Culture Globalization

Anthropology as studying culture

Culture as an integrated whole. All parts of culture are interconnected No part of culture can be studied in isolation Studying culture involves studying the cultural models people have learned Key Question: Why does this behaviour/emotion make sense in this culture

ANTHROPOLOGY AS A TOOL
All cultures are comprised of material objects; ideas, values, attitudes and patterned ways of behaving
The study of humans; physical and cultural characteristics, distribution, social relationships, etc.

What can we Interpret?

Development of Anthropology

Academic anthropology had its beginning in the early 20th century (Kroeber, Malinowski, Boas). After World War II, the baby boom fuelled the growth of the American educational system and anthropology, fostering the further growth of academic anthropology.

A Few Anthropologist of Note

Kroeber: western tribes of Native Americans Malinowski: The goal of the anthropologist, is to grasp the native's point of view, his relation to life, to realize his vision of his world (Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Dutton 1961 edition, p. 25.) Boas

Contributions
Broad task base
Comparative tradition (unbiased) Scientific nature of culture based determinations Book pages 17-20

Colonization
Native and the other
Creating Strains on the social fabric Social Engineering and the results

Colonial Onset

contd.

Given the significance of anthropology as a tool in Western mans search for selfunderstanding, it was an important methodological assumption that the study of the primitive or non-Western world could take place only from the vantage point of the Westerner or outsider. Anthropology, as Lvi-Strauss (1966:126) puts it, is the science of culture as seen from the outside.

Colonial Onset

contd..

Anthropological process as one whereby we snap the portrait . . . it is only a representative of our civilization who can, in adequate detail, document the difference, and help create an idea of the primitive which would not ordinarily be constructed by primitives themselves (Lewis 1973: 582)

Essential readings

Anthropology An Applied Perspective Authors: Garry Ferraro