Anthro 9/10 flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering cultural anthropology concepts, folklore examples of vampirism across cultures, elements of culture, and modes of cultural change.

Vrykolakas

A figure in Greek belief that a person may become after committing sacrilege, resulting in becoming undead and eating flesh.

Albanian Vampiric Witch

A vampiric creature in Albanian folklore that becomes a flying insect.

Leyak

A cannibalistic figure from Bali that targets the blood of newborns, can fly as a head with internal organs, and is not necessarily dead.

Penanggalan

A Malaysian entity, not considered "undead", that takes the form of a disembodied head and neck with internal organs.

Culture

An umbrella term covering languages, beliefs, customs, rules, art, habits, and understandings of life and death that both enables and constrains human experience.

Within culture……

(4 values)

1. values : symbolic expressions of intrinsically desirable principles or qualities

2. Norms: typical patterns of actual behavior as well as rules

3. Customs: long established norms 

4. Traditions: practices and customs that have become most ritualized 

7 Basic elements: Culture is….

1. Is learned (not biologically inherited)

2. Uses symbols

3. Is dynamic

4. Is integrated with daily experience

5. Shapes everybody’s lives

6. Is shared

7. Gives people a way of doing things they may consider “right”

Enculturation

The lifelong process of learning the social rules and cultural logic of a society through direct teaching and observation.

Moche Tomb of Señora de Cao

An archaeological site whose weapons, adornments, and burial items demonstrate how culture is integrated to represent gender and power.

Hatshepsut (Sculptural Attributes)

An historical example showing how power and gender are materially communicated through attributes visible in sculptures.

Generality

A cultural pattern or trait that is present in some cultures but is not universal, such as celebrating a birthday.

Particularity

A cultural trait or practice unique to specific contexts, such as baby gender reveal parties that involve explosives.

Mechanisms of Cultural Change

The processes by which culture transforms, including trade, war, and independent invention.