ANTH 1002 Fall 2023 Midterm

Define the term ‘social fact’ and provide an example.

• aspects of social life that shape our actions as individuals, norms, values, beliefs 

  • coerces us to follow certain expectations, follow freedoms to the degree society allows 

  • Ex: during the pandemic: mental health awareness, public health initiative, global connectedness

Who coined the term ‘social fact’ and which reading(s) focus on it?

Emile Durkheim; “What is a Social Fact” (1895)

What is the significance of ‘social fact’ to the field of anthropology?

n/a

Define the term ‘Agl’

• Bedouin society in the Awlad Ali community of the Western Desert of Egypt

• agl= suppression of emotions and self control of honorable persons

  • set of emotions and social norms 

  • Enables a person to control their needs and passions in recognition of honor 

    • Perceive social order

Who coined the term ‘Agl’ and in which text is it found?

Lila Abu-Lughod; Veiled Sentiments

Why is understanding the concept of ‘Agl’ important to the field of anthropology?

Define the term ‘Hasham’.

The literal translation of hasham is:  modesty, shame, or shyness. To have moral worth, people must show hasham → voluntary deference to those in the system who more closely embody ideas

Who coined the term ‘hasham’ and in which text is this found?

Lila Abu-Lughod; Veiled Sentiments

How does ‘hasham’ related to societal expectations of Awlad Ali girls and women?

• Sexual modesty→ women 

• Involuntary experience (even an emotion)

  • Linked to feelings of shame/embarrassment/guilt in the company of the more powerful and acts of deference from these feelings 

    • Motivates the avoidance of more powerful

  • Ex: dressing modestly, downcase eyes, humble but formal posture, restraint in eating/smoking/talking/laughing

• Or as a voluntary set of behaviors conforming to code of modesty

• Women must be trained to be modest, obedient, soft spoken 

  • Girls become daughters→ wives 

  • Will have to defer to many as men are providers 

Why is understanding hasham significant to the field of anthropology?

edit response: Understanding Hasham is important in anthropology because it helps analyze cultural practices, beliefs, and social structures of different societies. It allows researchers to understand the meaning behind rituals, traditions, and customs, shedding light on the complexities of human behavior and societal dynamics.

Compare and contast 'agl' and 'hasham' in Bedouin society. How do they work together?

Edit: Comparison of 'agl' and 'hasham' in Bedouin society:

• 'agl': A traditional form of leadership based on wisdom, experience, and respect. It is earned and not inherited.

• 'hasham': A system of leadership based on lineage and hereditary succession.

• Together, 'agl' and 'hasham' work in harmony, with 'agl' providing guidance and wisdom, while 'hasham' ensures continuity and stability through lineage-based leadership.

• It is important to understand at this point that hasham only occurs in the atmosphere of unequals, in other words, amongst people of differing statuses.  Abu-Lughod speculates that this is why segregation of hierarchies is so important to the Bedouins; no interaction means no danger of transgression.

liminality

The state of being in-between, where one is neither fully in one social or cultural group nor fully outside of it. It is a transitional phase characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty, and limbo.

which anthropologist coined the term ‘liminality’ and which text focuses on it?

Victor Turner; Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Period in Rites de Passage

What are the two central aspects of liminality?

• Reinforces society as a structured, differentiated and often hierarchical system separating people in terms of “more” or “less”

• Emerging in the liminal period: society presents as an unstructured or rudimentarily structured and relatively undifferentiated community

What are positive aspects of liminality?

• Can signal growth and change

• Ex: symbol of the infant is both a person without an identity but on the threshold of forming one

• Sambia: boys during initiation are both male and female on the threshold of becoming male

What does anti-structure mean in anthropology?

Edit Flashcard: "Anti-structure in anthropology refers to a state where social norms and hierarchies are temporarily suspended or reversed. It occurs during rituals or festivals, allowing individuals to engage in behaviors not typically allowed. It promotes social cohesion, solidarity, and a sense of equality among participants."

Why is liminality important to anthropology?

EDIT: Liminality is crucial in anthropology as it refers to transitional spaces or moments. It helps us understand cultural change, as societies often undergo shifts during liminal periods. By studying liminality, archaeologists gain insights into rituals, ceremonies, and social structures. It aids in identifying cultural boundaries, exploring power dynamics, and revealing the significance of liminal spaces in shaping past societies.

Define segmentary lineage in anthropology

Flashcard: "Segmentary lineage - A social organization system in anthropology where larger kinship groups are divided into smaller segments based on descent. Each segment has its own leader and functions independently, but can come together for collective action or defense."

What readings focus on segmentary lineage?

E.Evans-Pritchard, “The Nuer,” & Lila Abu Lughod, “Veiled Sentiments”

What does Lila Abu Lughod say about segmentary lineage?

Why is segmentary lineage important to anthropology?

Flashcard: "Segmentary lineage is important in anthropology as it refers to the social organization based on kinship and descent. It helps understand how societies are structured and how power and resources are distributed among different groups. It provides insights into the formation of social identities and relationships within a community."

What is Azande witchcraft?

It is how the A

Who wrote about Azande witchcraft?

E.Evans-Pritchard, “The Notion of Witchcraft Explains Unfortunate Events.”

Who are the Bushong?

• group of people living in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• Bushong= rich

  • industrialized/western based

  • Get married later- more of their life is focused on gaining wealth and then they settle down 

    • Affect their economic state 

Who do the Bushong get contrasted to?

• Lele= poor

  • Hierarchy based on authority 

  • Less industrialized/ more community based

  • Separated from the Bushong by the Kasai River, share a common origin, houses, clothes, and languages. Yet the Lele are poor. The Lele only produce for subsistence.

Why are the Bushong richer than the Lele despite their similarities?

Both culture and ecology play a role:

• Physical environmental conditions: Similar climate and soil

• Division of labor between men vs women; the old versus the young

• Technique

• Population density 

• Activities: hunting, fishing, housing, agriculture, exploitation of palms for wine, the wearing of raffia (clothing, material)

• Attitude towards work, rich, competition

• Emphasis on seniority

• Marriage: polygyny vs monogamous 

  • Don’t equate women’s worth to a certain amount of money

  • How much work the cows are worth
    

Define sabung.

• For Balinese, cocks are phalluses, heroes, warriors, tough guys, bachelors

  • Sabung means all of these

  • Intimacy between men and their cocks= more than metaphorical

  • Take good care of them, grooming them, feeding the, bathing them 

Whose writing explains sabung?

Clifford Geertz - Notes on the Balinese Cockfight

What is the significance of sabung to the field of anthropology?

EDIT: Sabung is a traditional cockfighting practice in Southeast Asia. It holds significance in anthropology as it reflects cultural values, social hierarchies, and gender roles. Anthropologists study sabung to understand its role in community bonding, power dynamics, and the negotiation of social identities.

Define commodity fetishism

The notion that objects (commodities) have an inherent value rather than considering the (exploitative) human labor and social relationships that go into the final product

Which readings focus on commodity fetishism?

Karl Marx, “Capital,” & Michael Taussig, “The Devil and Commodity Fetishism”

What does Taussig say about commodity fetishism in his book,The Devil and Commodity Fetishism in South America?

EDIT: Taussig argues that commodity fetishism in South America is a form of magical thinking. It involves attributing supernatural powers to objects, believing they possess hidden qualities or agency. This belief system perpetuates social inequality and exploitation, as it obscures the human labor and suffering behind the production and exchange of commodities.

What does Marx say about commodity fetishism

EDIT: Marx argues that commodity fetishism is the process by which the value of a commodity is attributed to its physical characteristics, rather than the labor that went into producing it. This masks the exploitative nature of capitalism and creates the illusion that commodities have inherent value.

Why is commodity fetishism important in anthropology?

EDIT: Commodity fetishism: The belief that objects have inherent value, independent of human labor. Important in anthropology as it helps understand how material goods shape social relationships and cultural systems. It reveals how people attribute meaning and power to objects, influencing consumption patterns and economic practices.

Define tot

Tot is the Nuer’s rainy season (May to October). The Nuer have 2 seasons tot (rainy) and dry.

Which reading describes tot?

E.Evans Pritchard; The Nuer

What is the significance of tot to anthropology? What is unique about it?

EDIT: For the Nuer, the seasons depended on WHERE they were (not WHEN?). Explain ecological time. Could demonstrate how time in interpreted differently across cultures.

Define hau.

Hau is the spirit of the gift in Polynesian (Maori?) cultures. During gift giving, the gift giver gives the recipient hau along with the gift, meaning part of their soul. Hau emphasizes the need to reciprocity, as gift givers are expecting to receive parts of their soul back.

Which reading(s) focus on hau

Marcel Mauss, The Gift

Define thick description in anthropology

Detailed and context-rich analysis of social interactions, behaviors, and cultural practices. It involves observing and interpreting not just the actions, but also the meanings and significance behind them. Thick description aims to understand the underlying cultural context and values that shape human actions, providing a deeper understanding of social phenomena.

Contrast ‘thick description’ with ‘thin description’

answer later

Which reading focuses on thick description

Clifford Geertz; Thick Description

define collective consciousness in anthropology

The shared beliefs, values, and knowledge that exist within a society, shaping the thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions of its members. It reflects the collective identity and influences social norms, customs, and practices.

Compare and contrast collective consciousness and social fact

Compare and contrast collective consciousness and social fact:

Collective consciousness refers to shared beliefs, values, and attitudes held by a group, shaping their behavior. Social facts, on the other hand, are external forces that influence individuals' actions within society. While collective consciousness is subjective and internal, social facts are objective and external. Both concepts help explain how societies function and shape individual behavior.

Which reading(s) explain the collective consciousness?

Emile Durkheim, What is Social Fact?

homosexuality

a social construct; sexual orientation characterized by romantic or sexual attraction, emotional attachment or intimate relationship of people of the same sex

why is understanding the collective consciousness significant to anthropology?

EDIT: Understanding collective consciousness is significant to anthropology as it helps analyze shared beliefs, values, and norms within a society. It allows anthropologists to comprehend how individuals think and behave collectively, shaping cultural practices. This insight aids in understanding social cohesion, identity formation, and the transmission of cultural knowledge.

Which class readings focus on homosexuality?

Homosexuality: Halperin, D. 1989. “100 Years of Homosexuality.” & Kulick, D. 2009. “Soccer, Sex and Scandal in Brazil.”

What is the significance of homosexuality to anthropology?

• Halperin showed us how the concept of homosexuality is a social construct. It is something we have recently developed as a society. The term did not exist before 1892. Before this there was only sexual inversion. Thus, he was able to show anthropologist how the term homosexuality has evolved and was viewed differently based on the time period. 

  • Different cultures have different approaches to the idea as well. It is more fluid concept in other cultures and same sex desire has been seen as a behavior rather than an identity in the past.

Define travesti as it was defined in Kulick’s “Soccer, Sex, and Scandal”

A man who is sexually attracted to masculine men, who augments their appearance to appear female with clothing, estrogen, and even plastic surgery. They keep their penises and do not identify as women but simply a special kind of man. If a man were attracted to/had sex with a travesti, it is not considered gay.