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84 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Anthropology
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the comparative and relativistic study of extinct and extant humans and their languages and cultures.
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Anthropology |
the comparative and relativistic study of extinct and extant humans and their languages and cultures. |
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relativistic |
looking at data from within its own context |
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Physical anthro |
study focusing on evolution and the biological processes of adaptation. Genetics, osteology, forensics etc |
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Archaeology |
material remnants of past societies used to analyze and interpret patterns of behavior |
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Linguistic anthropology |
study of human speech and languages in relation to other languages and culture. |
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Cultural Anthropology |
living societies, studying by subsuming self into culture, study of religion |
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scientific method |
1. observe a problem 2. create a hypothesis that is testable and predictive 3. Gather data with controlled consistency to make it replicable 4. Test hypothesis a. confirm- possibly promote to theory b. refute 5. go back to beginning to reconfirm or alter if refuted |
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theory |
statement of relationships that has a firm basis as demonstrated through repeated testing and accumulation of evidence |
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culture bound theory |
has been tested, but only from one culture |
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culture |
values, beliefs, and perceptions that create behavior and allow behavior to be interpreted |
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characteristics of culture |
1. shared 2. learned (enculturation) 3. based on symbols 4. integrated (patterned) 5. dynamic ( changes over time) |
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society |
group of interdependent people 1. mutual survival 2. often same territory, language, and culture |
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ethnography |
detailed study of one particular culture |
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ethnology |
comparative study of 2 or more cultures focusing on a few main topics |
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Emic perspective |
within the group or culture under study (me)
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Etic perspective |
outsider to the culture or group under study (them) |
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Participant observation |
the researcher actively participates in culture and activities to approximate the emic everyday experience 1. key consultant |
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Ethics of anthropology |
1. Informed consent: the individuals being observed are aware of the study and scope 2. obligations a. to society under study, "do no harm" through action or inaction b.sponsors-the ones who pay the bills: NEA, NSF, etc c. other researchers/discipline at large |
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cultural grouping 1. culture area |
similar geographic regions will display like characteristics. often actions are direct response to the environment |
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Substistence classification 1.Hunter Gatherer |
small, egalitarian nomadic groups, deliberate nomadism with direction often related to seasons or locations. women provide approx 70% of the caloric intake through gathering |
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Substistence classification 2.Pastoralism |
Shepherds,(sheep, goats, cattle), often nomadic, stringent and typically patriarchal power structure. closely connected with their animals |
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Substistence classification
3. Horticulture |
subsistence farmers- farming for sustenance not trade. medium small populations |
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Substistence classification
4. Intensive agriculture |
farming for surplus and trade-higher populationa and the beginning of craft specialization |
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Substistence classification 5. Industrial/post industrial |
Intensive agriculture with technology (Now) |
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Band (uncentralized and smaller) |
Usually group consensus no leader figure
present day example Namibia bushmen. (reciprocity economics) |
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tribe (uncentralized and larger) |
larger than band, usually horticulturists, greater responsibility for leader, extended family structure Present day example Hopi, Zuni (reciprocity and some redistribution)
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cheifdoms (centralized+smaller) |
defined central authority and structure. economics based on redistribution of wealth. Hereditary and hierarchal. Present day example Azandi (redstribution mandatory for survival)
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States
(centralized and larger) |
Market economics with redistribution. Possibly hierarchal, possibly electoral beaurocracy. Present day example all of the UN nations. (redistribution is intrinsic to market econ and high beaurocracy) |
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ethnocentrism |
belief that one's own culture or belief is the best or "proper" culture |
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Cultural relativism |
ability to suspend judgement of another's behavior until that behavior is understood from the context of the culture that created the behavior (ok to judge after understanding from anthropological viewpoint) only impartial to a point, may use the inherent cultural methods to attempt to effect change of maladaptive behaviors |
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Analytical (religious studies perspectives) |
What are the characteristics that make up religion? Tylor- belief in spirit beings Smart- six demensions of religion |
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Functional
(religious studies perspectives) |
What role does religion play?
religion serves a purpose and is created to serve the interests of society's members Malinowski-religion structured to serve society's interest Durkheim- social cohesion |
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Essentialist
(religious studies perspectives) |
Worship or reverence- what is held divine or sacred?
Durkheim- religion involves the sacred supernatural |
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Ozolins Operant Definition of Religious characteristics
1. Belief 2. Awe 3.Power 4.Ritual 5. Narrative 6. Social |
1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural beings, such as spirits or gods. 2. Focus on the sacred supernatural, feelings of reverence and awe 3. The presence of a supernatural power or energy that is found in supernatural beings as well as physical beings and objects 4. performance of ritual activities that involve the manipulation of sacred objects to communicate with and/or manipulate effects of supernatural beings 5. articulation of a worldview and moral code through narratives and other means 6. provides for the creation of social bonds and explains the unknown to give individual sense of control |
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Evolutionary approach |
Primitive vs civilized- believed it was progressive pattern from savagery to barbarism to civilization frazer- magic, religion, science |
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Animism |
belief in spirits or ghosts |
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Animatism- Marett |
Marett- the concept that belief grew from human's emotional reaction to nature |
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Marxist |
religion is a false consciousness designed to divert attention from the misery of human life and is a natural consequence of distress. reductionist- conflict and control |
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Interpretive approach |
"web of significance" Geertz culturally inclusive- you can't understand the religion without studying the culture it arose from |
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Psychological approach |
freud- a relationship between individuals humanity vs supernatural dualism |
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Worldview |
the way in which people percieve and interpret their reality. cultural and individual |
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Navajo worldview |
harmony- if ill etc, your actions have caused you to fall "out of harmony" with nature. Restorative rituals and ceremonies |
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Judeo-christian worldview |
control- use antibiotics + supernatural prayer etc |
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Myth- Anthropological definition |
sacred narrative that explains how the world came to be in it's current form may incorporate creation and ethical directions connected to supernatura Most highly conserved not likely to change |
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Legends |
more vague timeline narrative recent past historical. Told as true. May have elements of truth. multiple versions that change over time no known author. may be supernatural or sacred |
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tale |
told for entertainment. may have a moral or lesson (sacred would be parable) |
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Myth Legend Tale |
same structure of narratives appears in many cultures worldwide |
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Genesis versions |
example of how a written text can have separate versions 1. Mesopotamian creation myth Enuma Elish 586 BCE (water covered earth created in 6 days) 2. Earth desert, god creates man, garden of eden etc. Judeo document pre torah 950 BCE |
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Study of Myth |
1. Myths are universal --campbell 2. Myths can be understood in respect to the rituals that are performed--Robertson-Smith 3.Myths can be functional- harvest, conflict etc-Malinowski 4. Myths can be studied literally-Boas 5. Myths can be studied structurally-Levi-Strauss 6. Symbolically-Archetypes, Jung |
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Robertson-Smith
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Ritual Myths study |
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Campbell |
Myths are universal |
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Malinowski |
Myths are functional |
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Levi-Strauss |
Myths can be studied structurally |
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Jung |
Myths can be studied via archetypes and symbols |
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Origin Myths |
Most all-pervasive, most sacred and constant Metaphor of birth (creator, goddess) Chaos/nothingness Emergence from the earth |
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Apocalyptic myth |
destruction of the world
ex) Ragnarok, Armageddon, Aztecs 5th world) |
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Flood Myth |
Floods/destruction, cleansing/renewal (most societies started on or near water) |
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Trickster Myth |
amoral, anti-social, creative force ex Loki, Coyote, Raven |
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Hero Myth |
Ex Buddha Several stages, high birth, conflict, overcoming it, spiritual reward |
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Symbols are defined as
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something that represents something elsethey can be arbitrary and/or abstractusually relative to cultural context
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Primary symbolic expression for humans..
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Art-Palenque(Mayan city)-example the sarcophagus of Lord Pakal
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Color symbolism
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There are a variety of shades and specific colors that different cultures are aware of and categorize by. Example the Yoruba from Nigeria
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Yoruba Color categories
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1. FUNFUN-pale, white, silver, gray-ethical and merciful2. PUPA-bright, red, orange, yellow, etc. Thunder and lightening god.3. DUDU-Dark, blue, black, brown. Introverted and unstable god
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Sandpainting is done by both
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Navajo-harmonyBuddhists-form of meditation, often a mandala, process is the point not the end goal
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Buddhist Sandpainting
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Kalachakra Mandala=body,mind, spirit, with gates, innermost pristine consciousness and inner bliss, no gatesorigin 600 BCE
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Symbols in Buddhist sand painting
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Yellow-earth-innermostBlue- watersilvery- moon, airfire-redhttp://kalachakranet.org/mandala_kalachakra.html# (lots of info on this page)
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Types of symbolism
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ArtColortimemusicdance
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Symbol of time
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Organized, ritual timing is often crucial, may be periodic according to seasons etc
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Music as symbolism
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Functionalist- helps with memorization and mood control within societyExamples- Buddhist throat singing, aboriginal digeridoo, drum circles, singing bowls
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Dance as symbolism
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HulaWhirling dervishesthe Tewa (rain dance)NW coast indians, "Cannibal" dance, banned by Canada- it was a story about improvement of the spirit that was misinterpreted
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Asmat-Irian Jaya
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Eastern half of New Guinea. Horticulturalist tribe, major source of food the Sago Palm. Pith used to make milk, tree is carved into Bis pole where the spirit of deceased are enticed to reside. (not revered or tended afterwards) if death comes young, it is because of sorcery or battle
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Asmat Symbolism
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1. Mother- milk from pith of sago2. headhunter --chopping down sago3. preying mantis-headhunter
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Human interaction with the supernatural
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1. it exists2. it does NOT exist (scientific perspective)
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Dean Hamer
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biologist, theorized "the god gene" which made people more or less likely to believe. Higher contentment and similar brain energy patterns and genetic signaturereligiousity=contentment
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God Nodule
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Temporal lobe. Possibly "connects individual to supernatural" , as in, when this part of the brain is affected, it can change the neurological response to the supernatural
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Scott Atran
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Evolutionary anthropologist, believed religion=dilemnacounterevolutionary qualities-materially expensive, time intensive, emotionally expensive.
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Atran believed religion was counter-evolutionary because:
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it selects for those who believe a higher amount of counter-factual information
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Why would nature select for religiousity?
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1. Functionalism- the societal benefits outweigh the costs. (atran does not agree)2. Indirect Selection: a. Atran believes by-product of higher level human cognition.
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Cognitive model- Folk mechanics
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interpretation of cause and effect, and of how things work physically. Folk biology- can distinguish individual behaviorsFolk psychology-attribution of thoughts and intentions to others (agency detection system, which is selected for) May attribute incorrectly when recognizing random patterns and assigning meaning
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"fringes of experience"
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able to assign meaning and manage threats, supernatural is an interface of threat detection and explanation of the unexplainable
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James Dow
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Believed religiousity was directly selected for because it provides societal benefits- and if being a believer is made attractive to non believers, then it spreads- computer simulation experiment
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Richard Sosis |
adaptive value of costly signaling -proof of faith |
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Adaptive value of ritual behavior |
ability to promote and maintain cooperation |
