Since archaic times the concept of humanity has intrigued scholars. Eventually this curiosity led to the formation of what is now known as Anthropology, the study of humans. In the article “On Ethnographic Sincerity” by John L. Jackson Jr the author discusses how different anthropological perspectives incorporate humor and sincerity to ensure original findings. Another article, “Social Responsibility and the Anthropological Citizen” by Barbara Rose Johnston brings attention to praxis issues while at the same time she puts emphasis on the power of discourse. Both articles politicize the discipline by establishing ethical codes. Despite the ethical dilemmas present in the field, Anthropologists have managed to change policy via ethnographies
The underlying principle of The Interpretation of Cultures is that anthropology is a descriptive science
It is through years and years of folklore and folk wisdom as well as oral traditions that have been passed down throughout the years. Our fore fathers have set for us many moral codes and regulations but inevitably we disobey them. The aim of this research paper is to obtain a better understanding , towards ‘ What causes
Shane the Lone Ethnographer is an introduction guide to ethnography for beginners. This book is displayed in an innovative way of cartoons very similar to a comic style book. The main character Shane, demonstrates how ethnographers work through the process of completing an ethnography. The author used a cartoon like format to provide a new and interesting approach to understanding the art of ethnography. This book walks you through how Shane embarks on her very first research project and we also get to see the theories, methods, and skills used by ethnographic researchers.
Partners in Health is a non-profit health case organization founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack, and Dr. Jim Yong Kim. Paul Farmer being the “main founder” is an American anthropologist and physician who’s best known for his humanitarian work and his flagship work in the sub-field of anthropology, medical anthropology. While the Members of Partners in Health exude the intellect and passions that are needed to allot them their position in the anthropological community many common folk don’t understand as to why they’re the poster boys for the three fields of medical anthropology. Nevertheless that doesn’t meant that they’re
In “Are ethnographies ‘just so” stories?” by E. Paul Durrenberger, in this article he makes an argument about the form of culture being an artifact, and even science is a form of culture. He first points out the development of how culture came to term of being an artifact. Durrenberger says, “If we want to learn about a culture, we study its artifacts, especially the ones that say something about social relations and the culture itself” (60). This is significant because we can’t just have someone make up a story if they never studied or seen with their own two eyes to prove of what is real or not. The second point that he made is that science is a form of culture.
Koume Ono Ritsumeikan University Introduction to Anthropology The most surprising thing to me about reading Mary Douglas anthropology book, Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo, is that I was actually fascinated about everything she argues in the book, many things I had questioned about but did not know the answer or simple facts that make you realized how our society structure works. Which is why in these book review paper I will emphasize more in some chapters rather than the book itself in one big paragraph. Mary Douglas, analyses the ideas of pollutions and taboo in different cultures and also different timing (primitive cultures, modern cultures) focusing in the Gestalt psychology. However, one of the things I liked the most about her writing style is that she avoided limited explanations, explained everything in details and giving examples making it easier for the
Ethnomedicine has been historically defined as any healthcare system not present in the West; now, ethnomedicine is defined as the any cultural beliefs which surround healing in a community. The Hmong—an ethnic group located within present day Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand—have a particular system of ethnomedicine which is described as personalistic. Within a personalistic system, an active agent is the underlying cause of a disease—or etiology. Humans can be the cause of the disease as well as a number of non-human and supernatural agents. When Lia Lee began seizing at three months of age, her parents understood that the active agent which caused her epilepsy was a door slamming which caused her soul to fly from her body, an illness called quag
Horace Miner, a American Anthropologist wrote an academic essay titled “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.” In this article Miner described some of the bizarre rituals and practices of the “Nacirema” which the reader comes to find out that he is talking about North Americans. The way Miner goes into detail about how these people live makes them seem foreign. Thus making the norm for an American lifestyle seem odd because the certain type of lingo Miner uses to make this “tribe” more exotic then the actually are. His point in doing this is to show the reader how obnoxious anthropologist can be when they are explain a different culture.
The beginning of conflict between Native Americans and anthropologists is hard to determine, though we know that it is tied to the early creation of American anthropology in the United States. According to Native American authors such as Vine Deloria, the conflict is also tied to the history of gruesome collections and expeditions of past grave-robbing. In these cases anthropologists claimed to be saving pieces of information and history, while the Indians claimed they were being treated like pieces of history that needed to be saved. The relationship between the two parties is one filled with distrust, as very few members on either side appear to understand and recognize the rights of the other. Into each life, it is said, some rain must fall.
Have you ever wondered about underwater robots? Can they be good for underwater research? Have they been use for this before? Yes then, have you seen them in action from your perspective they are just a big waste of time and money. ROV stands for remotely operated vehicles, they are robots used to search under the water in outer space and in the ground beneath our feet.
In Monique and the mango Rains, there are many connections to course concepts. This book connects to the anthropological perspective which includes holism, cross culturalism, and cultural relativism. She also experiences culture shock. This book can be related to the Anthropological Perspective because there are examples of holism, cross culturalism, and cultural relativism thought the book.
“Doing ethnography is like trying to read (in the sense of "construct a reading of') a manuscript foreign, faded, full of ellipses, incoherencies, suspicious emendations, and tendentious commentaries, but written not in conventionalized graphs of sound but in transient examples of shaped behaviour.” - Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures (1973) Introduction At the end of the fifty years of his career, though Clifford Geertz remains a highly influential Cultural Anthropologist, especially in the United States, he has found his fair share of critics as well. While his contributions to the field are undeniable, they were however “(sic.) Fundamentally unfortunate in the social sciences.
Researchers and participants are encouraged to critically examine their own assumptions, biases, and power dynamics, and to be open to learning from one another throughout the research process. This self-awareness and ongoing reflection can help to ensure that the research is conducted ethically and that the outcomes are relevant, meaningful, and actionable. Dr. Christine Piage talks about how she wants to have this research conducted ethically, ensuring the participants that the data she collects is not going to end up in the hands of poachers or illegal
Boas is considered the father of anthropology in certain circles, yet many anthropologists consistently criticize his research. Scholars like Moberg describe his ideologies as disorganized and “an amalgam of unrelated scraps.” (Moberg, 2013, 153) Looking into Boas’ history, ambiguous patterns reveal themselves in how he elaborates on his beliefs. His beliefs show a common theme of assumption and area for discussion, yet that ambiguity does not dissolve the strides in research that he made. Boas is atheoretical, but it does not devalue his ethno-methodical thought process within his research.
ANTH150 Mini Essay 2: Fieldwork Observation Word Count: 734 I conducted my ethnographic observations over the course of a few days. During my fieldwork observation, I recorded observations of customer behaviour, the general layout of the restaurant, culture significance, and décor. Siam Corner is located in Rouse Hill on Resolution Place. While entering, you can immediately feel the intimate environment of the restaurant and sense the sudden shift from the streets of Sydney to a Thai restaurant. It is viewed as an upscale restaurant with excellent service.