When anthropologists do fieldwork, it takes a lot a putting together. Studying a culture foreign to them requires preparation for the challenges to come. Such challenges for an anthropologist to conduct fieldwork on Shamanism with the San People of South Africa may include obtaining rapport, armchair anthropology, familiarization with a new language, vaccinations, on the culture, and confronting religious practices that will place them out of their comfort zone.
Before an anthropologist can do fieldwork anywhere they need to gain consent, or rapport, to conduct research. For me to conduct research, I would need to let whoever is in charge know what my intent is and why I plan on doing my research. It would be smart to obtain permission before …show more content…
This is a practice called Armchair Anthropology. If sacrificing tourists is something that’s practiced, it would be a good idea to get a heads up. Even if facing being sacrificed isn't a delima, it would be in one’s best interest to know what the medical practices of this new country are. The healing practices of the San People are as much of a religion as it is a medical practice. “Divination is directed toward the analysis of problems, such as the source of misfortune, the location of stray livestock, of the cause of illness” (Wilmsen and Beierle 2005). They believe in spirits and will go into trance in order to discover what’s wrong with people. Of course I would be going there to learn, but the less of a culture shock the more comfortable I would be conducting research.
As previously stated, Shamanism has to do with healing and religion. “Healing was an important dimension of African traditional religion” (Chidester, 17). Being raised in a country where Christianity is very common, made it convenient for my parents to learn it and pass it on to me. Similarly, their medical practices would definitely make me uncomfortable since I was raised where almost everything is said to be curable with a pill. These religion differences would definitely be a challenge, because even if I am willing to be open, others might not feel the same
Before an anthropologist can do fieldwork anywhere they need to gain consent, or rapport, to conduct research. For me to conduct research, I would need to let whoever is in charge know what my intent is and why I plan on doing my research. It would be smart to obtain permission before …show more content…
This is a practice called Armchair Anthropology. If sacrificing tourists is something that’s practiced, it would be a good idea to get a heads up. Even if facing being sacrificed isn't a delima, it would be in one’s best interest to know what the medical practices of this new country are. The healing practices of the San People are as much of a religion as it is a medical practice. “Divination is directed toward the analysis of problems, such as the source of misfortune, the location of stray livestock, of the cause of illness” (Wilmsen and Beierle 2005). They believe in spirits and will go into trance in order to discover what’s wrong with people. Of course I would be going there to learn, but the less of a culture shock the more comfortable I would be conducting research.
As previously stated, Shamanism has to do with healing and religion. “Healing was an important dimension of African traditional religion” (Chidester, 17). Being raised in a country where Christianity is very common, made it convenient for my parents to learn it and pass it on to me. Similarly, their medical practices would definitely make me uncomfortable since I was raised where almost everything is said to be curable with a pill. These religion differences would definitely be a challenge, because even if I am willing to be open, others might not feel the same