ANTHRO Chapter 2 Flashcards - Fieldwork: A Meeting of Cultural Traditions

What does it mean to go to 'the field' in anthropology?

It means immersing oneself in a community to study their ways of life through direct, firsthand observation and interaction.

What is 'the field' in anthropology?

'The field' traditionally refers to remote or non-Western places where anthropologists study different cultures, though it can now include home settings or virtual worlds.

What was armchair anthropology?

In the 1800s, armchair anthropology relied on second-hand accounts from travelers and missionaries, using Eurocentric ideas to categorize and rank societies.

Who were some key early ethnographers?

1. Frank Cushing, who studied the Zuni

2. Franz Boas, who worked in British Columbia

3. Bronislaw Malinowski, who pioneered participant observation

What is ethnographic fieldwork?

Ethnographic fieldwork involves living in a community, forming relationships, and understanding their culture through participant observation.

How was "the field" initially defined in anthropology?

It was seen as remote, isolated places where anthropologists could study non-Western people distinct from colonial powers.

What is the "Savage Slot" in anthropology?

Michel-Rolph Trouillot's critique of anthropology's historical focus on "primitive" societies, reinforcing Eurocentric distinctions like modern vs. traditional.

Why is ethical reflection necessary in anthropology?

To address its colonial past and work to dismantle power structures, ensuring ethical, collaborative research with non-European communities.

What are some ethical issues in anthropology fieldwork?

Fieldwork often romanticizes non-Western societies, creates distorted images, and may ignore colonial impacts, requiring critical ethical reflection.

How is "the field" re-conceptualized today?

Fieldwork now includes home settings, virtual worlds, and blurs traditional boundaries like home vs. abroad, as seen in the work of Zora Neale Hurston and Audra Simpson.

What is participant observation?

A method where anthropologists live with and actively participate in the daily lives of the community they are studying.

What are the key principles of ethnographic fieldwork?

Extended time in a community, cross-cultural engagement, reciprocity, and a humbling learning experience with ethical responsibilities.

How is information documented during fieldwork?

Through fieldnotes, audio recordings, photos, and daily reflections that are organized and coded to build ethnographies.

What are the key ethical principles in anthropological research?

Informed consent, doing no harm, and protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of research participants are essential.

What is the positivist approach in anthropology?

It is the belief that objective reality exists and can be studied scientifically, using facts separate from values to gain universal truths.

What are the critiques of positivism in anthropology?

Positivism has been criticized for its ethical issues, misrepresentation of non-Western cultures, and inability to account for the complexity of cultural boundaries.

How did early ethnographers like Margaret Mead and Franz Boas apply positivism?

They used controlled comparisons and scientific methods to study small-scale societies, aiming for verifiable, value-free knowledge.

What triggered the critical reflection in anthropology during the 1960s-1970s?

African independence, global struggles for equality, and decolonization.

What approach did Audra Simpson emphasize for Indigenous representation?

The "in their own words" approach, advocating for Indigenous peoples to represent themselves.

What is Action Anthropology?

A form of anthropology where anthropologists engage in activism and social justice, witnessing and acting against oppression and colonialism.

What issue did anthropologists face regarding ethnographic reliability?

Ethnographies vary due to different observers' assumptions and experiences, meaning research is not value-free.

What was the debate between Margaret Mead and Derek Freeman about?

Freeman criticized Mead’s findings on Samoan adolescence, arguing her work was inaccurate and misled, challenging her conclusions on Samoan culture. Debate about ethnographic reliability.

What did James Clifford mean by "partial truths"?

Ethnographies present only partial perspectives, as no account can be fully objective.

How did Annette Weiner's research challenge Malinowski’s findings?

Weiner studied Trobriand women’s wealth, revealing cultural dynamics Malinowski had overlooked, showing ethnographies offer only partial truths.

What is positionality in anthropology?

The idea that an anthropologist’s social position (gender, class, nationality) shapes the knowledge they acquire and how they interpret data.

What is the main critique of positivism in anthropology?

Positivism assumes objective, value-free research, which often reinforces colonial hierarchies between researchers and participants.

What is the significance of reflexivity in fieldwork?

Reflexivity allows anthropologists to balance their own biases with empathy and understanding, improving the accuracy of their ethnographic work.

What does Faye Harrison argue for in decolonizing anthropology?

A critical examination of anthropology’s colonial roots and a commitment to undoing these structures.

What is Participatory Action Research?

A method where research participants are treated as equal partners, actively shaping the research process.

What is multi-sited ethnography?

A method that follows a research topic across multiple locations to understand larger phenomena and cultural interconnectedness.

How do anthropologists address the influence of global capitalism in fieldwork?

By studying how local practices interact with or resist global economic systems and addressing the impact of capitalism on cultures.

What did Immanuel Wallerstein contribute to anthropology?

The concept of the "Modern World System," emphasizing the importance of studying local contexts alongside global systems.