anthropology ch1-4 studyguide
Anthropology Study Guide
1.) The Nacirema excerpt is written by Horace Miner from the etic or outside perspective describing a ‘backward’ culture with weird beliefs and rituals. The purpose of this essay is to address some critical questions and desire at the heart of anthropology. How do we understand other people who are strange, odd, and different. Why do people do what they do. How do we know our descriptions are accurate?
2.) Cultural relativism vs ethnocentrism cultural relativism - the notion that cultures should be analyzed with reference to their own histories and values rather than according to the values of another culture
ethnocentrism - judging other cultures from the perspective of one’s own cultures. The notion that one’s own culture is more beautiful, rational, and nearer to perfection than any other.
James J Aimers essay “Eating incorrectly in Japan” looks at Japanese eating of whales from a ethnocentric point of view. Aimers says in his essay that eating whales is wrong because whales are an endangered species. His view was ethnocentric because Aimers learned this from his culture which promote saving wildlife. Aimers attempt to enculturate and follow the japanese customs and see their culture from a relative perspective failed because he could not accept eating whale
3.) one hundred percent american by Ralph Linton is an essay that attacks american ethnocentrism and nationalism. Criticizes that there is nothing american. Etic or outside perspective.
4.) Anthropology is different from other disciplines because it is holistic.
5.) Subfields of Anthropology
1. cultural anthropology - the study of customary patterns in human behavior, thought, and feelings
2. archaeology - study of remains people left from their culture
3. physical/biological anthropology - study of humans as physical or biological entities
4. applied anthropology - is the use of the above subfields to solve practical problems in business, politics,
1.) The Nacirema excerpt is written by Horace Miner from the etic or outside perspective describing a ‘backward’ culture with weird beliefs and rituals. The purpose of this essay is to address some critical questions and desire at the heart of anthropology. How do we understand other people who are strange, odd, and different. Why do people do what they do. How do we know our descriptions are accurate?
2.) Cultural relativism vs ethnocentrism cultural relativism - the notion that cultures should be analyzed with reference to their own histories and values rather than according to the values of another culture
ethnocentrism - judging other cultures from the perspective of one’s own cultures. The notion that one’s own culture is more beautiful, rational, and nearer to perfection than any other.
James J Aimers essay “Eating incorrectly in Japan” looks at Japanese eating of whales from a ethnocentric point of view. Aimers says in his essay that eating whales is wrong because whales are an endangered species. His view was ethnocentric because Aimers learned this from his culture which promote saving wildlife. Aimers attempt to enculturate and follow the japanese customs and see their culture from a relative perspective failed because he could not accept eating whale
3.) one hundred percent american by Ralph Linton is an essay that attacks american ethnocentrism and nationalism. Criticizes that there is nothing american. Etic or outside perspective.
4.) Anthropology is different from other disciplines because it is holistic.
5.) Subfields of Anthropology
1. cultural anthropology - the study of customary patterns in human behavior, thought, and feelings
2. archaeology - study of remains people left from their culture
3. physical/biological anthropology - study of humans as physical or biological entities
4. applied anthropology - is the use of the above subfields to solve practical problems in business, politics,