TermsUnderstanding Cultural AnthropologyTheories of AnthropologyFranz BoasBronislaw MalinowskiObjectivity & Studying CultureAnthropological AuthorityCritiques of EthnographyAnty 101d 1st Edition Lecture 20Current Lecture-Lassiter’s Definition: a shared and negotiated system of meaning • Learned• Conscious and unconscious • Informed by knowledge that people put into practice -It is used to interpret experience and behavior• Reflected and shaped by things of culture; architecture, food, etc..Terms-Cultural Relativity: one culture is not superior to another • Judged not in relation to one another-Historical Particularism: each culture an outgrowth of its distinct historical trajectory • not static-Ethnocentrism: to be AVOIDED, explaining other cultures from ones own cultural perspective -Holism: parts of culture work together to create a system of meaning • Biological and culture; 4 subfields-Comparitivism: Search for similarities/differences among humans Understanding Cultural Anthropology These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-Discovering patterns/meanings by looking beyond everyday examples • Interpretation of culturally specific symbols-Recognizing the impact of social forces that mold or shape humans• Culture!• Behaviors/ beliefs are socially patterned/ construction • Meaning given to objects/things -Contrasting Interpretations• Nature v. Culture• Primitive v. Civilized • Much more complex—> permeable boundaries Theories of Anthropology -Evolutionism- late 19th century • EB Tylor (British) and Lewis Henry Morgan (American) • savagery, barbarism, civilization; no linear progression -Cultural Relativity- late 19th century • Franz Boas• Challenged that we’re all equal -Functionalism- early 20th century (1920) • Bronislaw Malinowski• it all works together to form culture => same goal -Ethnography as Cultural Critique 1930-1950• Margaret Mead • Understanding others to better understand ourselves • Somoan culture—> values/look forward to puberty -We don't all have the same goal -Symbolic/Interpretive Anthropology 1950-1970• Clifford Geertz• Interpretation of symbols • Observed cultural rituals building on their experiences Franz Boas -Father of American Anthropology -Challenged social evolutionists -Cultural Relativity- understand natives point of view -Historical particularism- builds on past-Inuit Fieldwork- same problems, different actions -Culture => too complex to compare Bronislaw Malinowski -Tropriand Islanders 1914-1918; Argonauts of Western Pacific (Book, 1920)-Ethnographic methods; “off the veranda” participant observation -Goal: grasp natives point of view -Used detailed observation and recorded behavior, daily life, utterances -Functionalism= each part of a culture has a purposeObjectivity & Studying Culture -Scientific Methods:• Participant Observation (main approach)-How do we study culture?• Observe (was that a wink or a twitch?) • meaning • what we do and what we say about what we do -Dont just study villages but study IN villages Anthropological Authority-Doing fieldwork-Ethnography• Malinowski: scientific authority, 3rd person• Geertz: 1st person, part philosophical part confession-Theory: how to understand/explain patterns/ differences in human behavior • What is culture?-Theory linked to data —> data linked to anthropologist • instrument of observation • Relationship between ethnographer Critiques of Ethnography -Problem of ethnographic present • Cultures are not bound or static; always changing -False objectivity in form of 3rd person -Subjectivity of informants/ ethnographer-Impact of ethnographer -Power & Profit • how is the information correlated?• obligations to subjects/ informants?-Mitigatory Bias?• Work in teams• Collaborate, shared realities • Recognize voice/impact of