An introduction to the discipline of Anthropology

Summary

The MCAT multimedia series introduces anthropology as the study of human cultures, tracing its origins to early explorers' tales and formalizing in the late 19th century. Early anthropologists like Marcel Mauss explored cultural customs, while the 20th century saw a shift to ethnography with figures like Franz Boas and Bronisław Malinowski. The field expanded into specializations like political and medical anthropology, questioning societal structures and beliefs. Theories by Claude Lévi-Strauss and Clifford Geertz revolutionized cultural interpretation. Today, anthropology continues to evolve, applying ethnographic methods to modern societies amidst globalization.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Anthropology is the study of people and their cultures, with roots dating back over a thousand years to early travelers' tales.
• 🔍 Early anthropologists used the study of pre-industrial societies to understand their own pasts and the origins of institutions like religion and family.
• 🎁 Marcel Mauss's 'The Gift' argued that gifts create complex bonds of reciprocal obligation, which are fundamental to cultures.
• 🌏 The early 20th century marked a shift towards ethnography, with anthropologists like Franz Boas and Bronisław Malinowski living among the people they studied.
• 🤔 Anthropologists began asking how social institutions fit together to create a functioning society, leading to the structural functionalist tradition exemplified by works like E.E. Evans-Pritchard's 'Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic'.
• 🏛 Political anthropology challenges assumptions of global politics, as seen in James Ferguson's 'The Anti-Politics Machine', which critiques the direction of aid based on political rather than human needs.
• 🏥 Medical anthropology explores different experiences of medicine and disease, with Victor Turner's 'The Ritual Process' examining the power of symbols in religious ceremonies.
• 👗 Feminist anthropology questions societal understanding, as Lila Abu-Lughod challenges Western views on Muslim women's clothing as symbols of subjugation rather than acceptance.
• 📚 Claude Lévi-Strauss introduced structuralism, viewing cultures as structures of human thought with underlying meaning in his book 'Structural Anthropology'.
• 🌈 Clifford Geertz's 'The Interpretation of Cultures' suggested an interpretive approach to studying cultures, focusing on meaning rather than scientific laws.
• 🕰️ Johannes Fabian's 'Time and the Other' prompted a rethinking of anthropological approaches, emphasizing the contemporaneity of the people studied rather than viewing them as from another time.
• 🌐 Modern anthropologists continue to innovate, applying ethnographic methods to understand contemporary societies in a globalizing world.

Q & A

What is anthropology and what does it study?

Anthropology is the study of people and their cultures, with roots stretching back over a thousand years to early travelers' tales of exotic societies and peoples.

When did the serious study of human culture begin in anthropology?

The serious study of human culture in anthropology began late in the 19th century.

What was the purpose of early anthropologists studying pre-industrial societies?

Early anthropologists studied customs and beliefs in pre-industrial societies to open windows onto their own pasts and explain the origins of institutions like religion and the family.

What is the significance of Marcel Mauss's book 'The Gift' in anthropology?

Marcel Mauss's book 'The Gift' argued that gifts create complex bonds of reciprocal obligation that help underpin cultures, making it influential in the field.

When did anthropology begin to focus heavily on ethnography?

Anthropology began to focus heavily on ethnography, the intensive long-term fieldwork, in the early 20th century.

What was the contribution of Franz Boas and Bronislaw Malinowski to the field of anthropology?

Franz Boas and Bronislaw Malinowski rejected speculation and insisted on living among and speaking the languages of the people they studied, emphasizing direct observation and interaction.

What is the structural functionalist tradition in anthropology, and who exemplifies it?

The structural functionalist tradition in anthropology seeks to understand how institutions fit together to create a functioning society, exemplified by E.E. Evans-Pritchard's work on witchcraft.

How does political anthropology challenge global politics?

Political anthropology, as shown by James Ferguson's 'The Anti-Politics Machine', questions the assumptions of global politics and how aid is often directed for political goals rather than human needs.

What does medical anthropology explore?

Medical anthropology explores differing experiences of medicine and disease, and how cultural symbols and religious ceremonies can influence these experiences, as seen in Victor Turner's 'The Ritual Process'.

What fundamental questions does feminist anthropology ask about society?

Feminist anthropology, as represented by Lila Abu-Lughod, questions why Western academics view certain cultural practices, such as Muslim women wearing burkas, as symbols of subjugation rather than acceptance of a moral system.

How did Claude Lévi-Strauss's work contribute to the development of structuralism in anthropology?

Claude Lévi-Strauss's work, particularly 'Structural Anthropology', used a linguistics model to introduce structuralism, the theory that cultures are built on hidden underpinnings formed from human perceptions and activity.

What is Clifford Geertz's interpretation of cultures, and how did it influence anthropology?

Clifford Geertz's 'The Interpretation of Cultures' suggested that cultures should be studied interpretively for meaning rather than scientifically for laws, leading to a reexamination of ethnographic fieldwork and a focus on social change.

How does Johannes Fabian's 'Time and the Other' challenge traditional anthropological approaches?

Johannes Fabian's 'Time and the Other' challenges the anthropological tendency to write about people as if they inhabit another time, inspiring the development of historical anthropology and giving voice to previously ignored stories.