Chapter1

What is Anthropology? : 

What is Anthropology? What do you think of when you hear the word: ANTHROPOLOGY?

QUIZ: Question # 1 : 

IS THE MOVIE CHARACTER INDIANA JONES AN ANTHROPOLOGIST? WHY DO YOU THINK SO? QUIZ: Question # 1

QUIZ: Question # 2 : 

QUIZ: Question # 2 IS THE CHARACTER LARA CROFT AN ANTHROPOLOGIST? WHY DO YOU THINK SO?

QUIZ: Question # 3 : 

QUIZ: Question # 3 From the television show “Friends,” was the character Ross an: Anthropologist Paleontologist Biologist Sociologist WHY DO YOU THINK SO?

Stereotypes of Anthropology : 

Stereotypes of Anthropology ONLY STUDY FAR AWAY, ‘EXOTIC’ CULTURES

Nothing to do with Dinosaurs : 

Nothing to do with Dinosaurs

Chapter 1What is Anthropology? : 

Chapter 1What is Anthropology? The Scope of Anthropology The Holistic Approach The Anthropological Curiosity Fields of Anthropology Applied Anthropology Specialization The Relevance of Anthropology

Word Anthropology: Greek Origins : 

Word Anthropology: Greek Origins Anthropos – literal translation “man”; in this case, we could interpret man to be “humans” Logos – “study” ANTHROPOLOGY MEANS: STUDY OF MAN (HUMANS)

Similarities : 

Similarities What are some other disciplines that study humans? Sociology Psychology Political Science Economics History Human Biology

Cultural Anthropology and Sociology : 

Cultural Anthropology and Sociology Formerly, sociology focused on “western” societies while anthropology looked at “exotic” societies. Cultural anthropological methodologies have primarily been in-depth and qualitative. Sociological methodologies tended to be mainly quantitative. The trend toward increasing interdisciplinary cooperation is causing these differences to disappear.

History of Anthropology : 

History of Anthropology Began as a formal discipline in the late 19th century (relatively young academic discipline – approximately 100 years old) Informally conducted during the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ or colonial period (17th Century and after) Encountering new peoples when exploring and conquering new territory Usually ethnocentric views from explorers who viewed people as ‘savages,’ ‘primitives’ or ‘exotic’ Lewis & Clark at Thomas Jefferson’s instruction Today, it is not just the study of Non-Western cultures

The Scope of Anthropology : 

The Scope of Anthropology Anthropology, a discipline of infinite curiosity about human beings. Broader in scope than other disciplines Every part of the world containing human populations is of interest to anthropological study.

Slide 13: 

ALL HUMANS IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES Any human, or more specifically, all groups of humans that ever existed are of interest to anthropologists ALL ASPECTS

Anthropological Questions : 

Anthropological Questions When, where, and why humans appeared on the earth? Debate in our society: Intelligent Design vs. Evolution

Anthropological Questions : 

How and why humans have changed over time? EVOLUTION Anthropological Questions

Anthropological Questions : 

How and why humans vary in their physical appearance? Anthropological Questions

Anthropological Questions : 

Do societies (in the past and today) have similar or different customs and practices? Anthropological Questions Yanomami Club Duels

The Holistic Approach : 

The Holistic Approach Anthropology is a unique discipline because it employs a holistic, or multifaceted, approach to the study of human beings.

The Anthropological Curiosity : 

The Anthropological Curiosity Anthropologists generally focus on typical characteristics of a population, such as traits or customs. How does one explain the differing characteristics of human groups?

Fields of Anthropology : 

Fields of Anthropology Biological (Physical) Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Applied Anthropology

Figure 1.1 (p. 5)The Subdivisions of AnthropologyThe four major subdisciplines of anthropology (in bold letters) may be classified according to subject matter (biological or cultural) and according to the period with which each is concerned (distant past vs. recent past and present). There are applications of anthropology in all four subdisciplines. : 

Figure 1.1 (p. 5)The Subdivisions of AnthropologyThe four major subdisciplines of anthropology (in bold letters) may be classified according to subject matter (biological or cultural) and according to the period with which each is concerned (distant past vs. recent past and present). There are applications of anthropology in all four subdisciplines.

Biological Anthropology : 

Biological Anthropology Two Primary Focuses of Study: Human Paleontology Human Variation

Biological Anthropology : 

Biological Anthropology Biological, or physical, anthropology investigates human biological diversity across time and space. There are special interests within biological anthropology: Paleoanthropology: human evolution as revealed by the fossil record Human Genetics – study of inherited human traits Population Biology Epidemiology – study of diesase Human Growth and Development Human Biological Plasticity: the body’s ability to change as it copes with stresses such as heat, cold, and altitude Primatology: the study of the biology, evolution, behavior, and social life of primates.

Biological Anthropology : 

Biological Anthropology Paleoanthropologists study the fossil record of human evolution. This photo shows an anthropology professor with early fossil skulls from Java, Indonesia. Photo Credit: Kenneth Garrett / National Geographic

What are fossils? : 

What are fossils? The hardened remains of once living things Archaeologists rarely deal with fossils Paleoanthropologists usually deal with fossils Paleontologists almost always deal with fossils HAS TO BE PRETTY OLD

Cultural Anthropology : 

Cultural Anthropology Culture refers to the beliefs, behavior, and practices of a particular population. The Three Branches of Cultural Anthropology are: Archaeology Linguistics Ethnology

Archaeology : 

Archaeology Archaeologists try to reconstruct history from the remains of human cultures. Most studies deal with prehistory Some specialize in historical archaeology

Archaeological Anthropology : 

Archaeological Anthropology Archaeological anthropology reconstructs, describes, and interprets past human behavior and cultural patterns through material remains. The material remains of a culture include artifacts (e.g. potsherds, jewelry, and tools), garbage, burials, and the remains of structures. Archaeologists use paleoecological studies to establish the ecological and subsistence parameters within which given group lived.

Archaeological Anthropology : 

Archaeological Anthropology The archaeological record provides archaeologists the unique opportunity to look at changes in social complexity over thousands and tens of thousands of years (this kind of time depth is not accessible to ethnographers). Archaeology is not restricted to prehistoric societies. Historical archaeology combines archaeological data and textual data to reconstruct historically known groups. William Rathje’s “garbology” project in Tucson, Arizona.

Anthropological Linguistics : 

Anthropological Linguistics The anthropological study of language. Historical Linguistics Descriptive Linguistics Sociolinguistics

Ethnology : 

Ethnology Commonly referred to as cultural anthropology, ethnology is concerned with patterns of thought and behavior. Types of ethnologists: Ethnographers Ethnohistorian Cross-Cultural Researcher

Cultural Anthropology : 

Cultural Anthropology Cultural Anthropology combines ethnography and ethnology to study human societies and cultures for the purpose of explaining social and cultural similarities and differences. Ethnography produces an account (a book, an article, or a film) of a particular community, society, or culture based on information that is collected during fieldwork. Generally, ethnographic fieldwork involves living in the community that is being studied for an extended period of time (e.g. 6 months to 2 years). Ethnographic fieldwork tends to emphasize local behavior, beliefs, customs, social life, economic activities, politics, and religion, rather then developments at the national level. Since cultures are not isolated, ethnographers must investigate the local, regional, national, and global systems of politics, economics, and information that expose villagers to external influences.

Applied Anthropology : 

Applied Anthropology About half of all professional anthropologists are applied, or practicing, anthropologists. Applied anthropologists may be trained in one or more of the subfields of anthropology.

Specialization : 

Specialization Some anthropologists identify with a variety of specializations: Economic Anthropologists Political Anthropologists Psychological Anthropologists Cultural Ecologists Medical Anthropologists

Medical Anthropology : 

Medical Anthropology Medical anthropology studies health conditions from a cross-cultural perspective. In Uganda's Mwiri primary school children are taught about HIV. Photo Credit: Jorgen Schytte / Still Pictures / Peter Arnold, Inc.

The Relevance of Anthropology : 

The Relevance of Anthropology In order to understand humans, it is essential that we study humans in all times and places. Anthropological studies can illustrate why other people are the way they are, both culturally and physically.