1. Limitations of Cultural Relativism2. Female Genital Cutting: TerminologyOutline of Current Lecture1. Challenge of Cultural Relativism2. Ethnology of culture3. Universality4. Generality5. Cultural Change Mechanisms6. Challenge to Cultural Relativism7. Globalization8. Ethnographic ResearchCurrent LectureChallenge of Cultural RelativismHuman rights: justice and morality beyond and superior to the laws and customs of particular countries, cultures, and religionsCultural rights: rights of a group to preserve its culture, language, and economic base.Ethnology of cultureuniversality, generality, and particularity“psychic unity of man”all human populations have equivalent capacities for culturepeople can learn any cultural traditionCultural universals: features found in every cultureCultural generalities: features common to several but not all human groups.Cultural particularities: features unique to certain cultural traditions.UniversalityUniversalitybiologically based universals:long period of infant dependencyyear-round sexualitycomplex brain that enables people to use symbols, languages, and tools.Social universals:Life in groups: some kind of familyCultural generalityNuclear family (kinship group consisting of parents and children)Cultural Change MechanismsDiffusion: patterns of cultural borrowings: ideas and “things”Has gone on throughout human historyCan be direct- between two adjacent cultures-or indirect- across long-distance medium (e.g., mass media, information technology)AcculturationThe process of the exchange of cultural features that results when groups come into continuous firsthand contact.Independent inventionProcess by which human innovates, creatively finding solutions to problems.Comparable inventions in different societies result in cultural generalitiesEx: the independent invention of agriculture in both the middle east and Mexico.GlobalizationThe accelerating interdependence of nations in a world system linked economically and through mass media and modern transportation systems.Forces of globalization: international commerce and finance, travel and tourism, transnational migration, the mass media, and high-tech information flows.ETHNIGRAPHIC RESEARCH (participant observation): Fieldwork where most observe rather than participaterapport: used to refer to the notion that you need a good working relationship with the research population. Which allows them to act normal around you.Non-interference: not allowed to interfere with the culture.ANTH 210 Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture1. Limitations of Cultural Relativism2. Female Genital Cutting: TerminologyOutline of Current Lecture1. Challenge of Cultural Relativism2. Ethnology of culture3. Universality4. Generality5. Cultural Change Mechanisms6. Challenge to Cultural Relativism7. Globalization8. Ethnographic ResearchCurrent Lecture Challenge of Cultural Relativism-Human rights: justice and morality beyond and superior to the laws and customs of particular countries, cultures, and religions-Cultural rights: rights of a group to preserve its culture, language, and economic base.Indigenous intellectual property rights: conservation of each society’s core beliefs, knowledge, and practices.Ethnology of culture-universality, generality, and particularityo“psychic unity of man”all human populations have equivalent capacities for culturepeople can learn any cultural tradition-Cultural universals: features found in every culture-Cultural generalities: features common to several but not all human groups. -Cultural particularities: features unique to certain cultural traditions. Universality-Universalityobiologically based universals:long period of infant dependencyyear-round sexualitycomplex brain that enables people to use symbols, languages, and tools. oSocial universals: Life in groups: some kind of familyCultural generalityoNuclear family (kinship group consisting of parents and children)Cultural Change Mechanisms-Diffusion: patterns of cultural borrowings: ideas and “things”oHas gone on throughout human historyoCan be direct- between two adjacent cultures-or indirect- across long-distance medium (e.g., mass media, information technology)-AcculturationoThe process of the exchange of cultural features that results when groups come into continuous firsthand contact. -Independent inventionoProcess by which human innovates, creatively finding solutions to problems. oComparable inventions in different societies result in cultural generalities Ex: the independent invention of agriculture in both the middle east and Mexico. Globalization-The accelerating interdependence of nations in a world system linked economically and through mass media and modern transportation systems. -Forces of globalization: international commerce and finance, travel and tourism, transnational migration, the mass media, and high-tech information flows. ETHNIGRAPHIC RESEARCH (participant observation): Fieldwork where most observe rather thanparticipate-rapport: used to refer to the notion that you need a good working relationship with the research population. Which allows them to act normal around you. -Non-interference: not allowed to interfere with the
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