In order to successfully pursue a career in the field of anthropology, one must possess an open mind and be prepared to dismiss all traces of ethnocentrism. Cultural anthropologists attempt to understand different cultures through the utilization of ethnography which enables anthropologists to obtain qualitative research through mechanisms such as participation and observation where they not only observe and record individuals of different cultures but may even participate in their ongoing activities. Additional methods include the use of key informants and interviews. While this field is significant in understanding human behavior in order to collectively solve pressing matters, some anthropologists fail to comprehend the damage they are
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The corruption associated with anthropological work is demonstrated in the discrimination against people of foreign culture. This is subsequently a result of a lack of comprehension and tolerance of deviations from the norm. In the article “The astonishing life of Ota Benga” by Pamela Newkirk, Newkirk demonstrates the injustice and unethical behavior that Ota Benga, a native inhabitant of the Congo was subjected to. Anthropologists and scientists disregarded his humanity and concluded that his analogous peculiarities to an ape were a direct result of the evolutionary bridge between ape and man. Ota Benga, a human, with equal autonomy, emotions, and thoughts to that of any human, was placed into an iron cage like an animal and sold for exhibition to the Bronx Zoo after first appearing at an anthropology exhibit. He was an object of observation and humiliation and was forced to endure the horrendous stenches that ejected out of his neighboring monkey’s bodies. All this for what anthropologists considered “the perfect example of culture and civilization” (Newkirk, 16). Ota Benga was confined to a cage because at the time anthropologists were highly fixated on what made people different and were evidently convinced that individuals such as Ota Benga indisputably exhibited the characteristics and capacities of those at the bottom of the ladder of cultural …show more content…
The article examines how natives become living specimens used for scientific study and display. In the case of Ishi, after surviving a series of atrocities committed against his tribe, he was later found and taken into the Museum of Anthropology where visiting anthropologists would come and study him. He also voluntarily served as the key informant of anthropologists though Schepher-Huges argues that he may have felt obligated to fulfil these services due to his illness, age and his uncertainty of security and welfare anywhere else. Additional harm may be portrayed by the work of anthropologists through the depiction of the astronomical amount of times Ishi was sent to perform as a living exhibit despite the evident knowledge of both his psychological and physical issues. Among these issues included Tuberculosis, PTSD, and an intense and penetrating terror of crowds (Schepher-Huges,16). Visiting anthropologist were overworking him despite his apparent weakness in order to once again benefit from his condition. Anthropologist and scientists also demonstrated extreme malevolence through their deceit in providing Ishi with proper cremation. Instead, selfish as they were once Ishi had deceased they took full advantage of his death and resorted to performing an autopsy on him and removing his brain for
The corruption associated with anthropological work is demonstrated in the discrimination against people of foreign culture. This is subsequently a result of a lack of comprehension and tolerance of deviations from the norm. In the article “The astonishing life of Ota Benga” by Pamela Newkirk, Newkirk demonstrates the injustice and unethical behavior that Ota Benga, a native inhabitant of the Congo was subjected to. Anthropologists and scientists disregarded his humanity and concluded that his analogous peculiarities to an ape were a direct result of the evolutionary bridge between ape and man. Ota Benga, a human, with equal autonomy, emotions, and thoughts to that of any human, was placed into an iron cage like an animal and sold for exhibition to the Bronx Zoo after first appearing at an anthropology exhibit. He was an object of observation and humiliation and was forced to endure the horrendous stenches that ejected out of his neighboring monkey’s bodies. All this for what anthropologists considered “the perfect example of culture and civilization” (Newkirk, 16). Ota Benga was confined to a cage because at the time anthropologists were highly fixated on what made people different and were evidently convinced that individuals such as Ota Benga indisputably exhibited the characteristics and capacities of those at the bottom of the ladder of cultural …show more content…
The article examines how natives become living specimens used for scientific study and display. In the case of Ishi, after surviving a series of atrocities committed against his tribe, he was later found and taken into the Museum of Anthropology where visiting anthropologists would come and study him. He also voluntarily served as the key informant of anthropologists though Schepher-Huges argues that he may have felt obligated to fulfil these services due to his illness, age and his uncertainty of security and welfare anywhere else. Additional harm may be portrayed by the work of anthropologists through the depiction of the astronomical amount of times Ishi was sent to perform as a living exhibit despite the evident knowledge of both his psychological and physical issues. Among these issues included Tuberculosis, PTSD, and an intense and penetrating terror of crowds (Schepher-Huges,16). Visiting anthropologist were overworking him despite his apparent weakness in order to once again benefit from his condition. Anthropologist and scientists also demonstrated extreme malevolence through their deceit in providing Ishi with proper cremation. Instead, selfish as they were once Ishi had deceased they took full advantage of his death and resorted to performing an autopsy on him and removing his brain for