Cultural Anthropology: Seeing, Myths, Ethnography & Medical Anthropology

What is the primary goal of anthropology according to the notes?

To explore deeper questions about being human rather than just trivia about other cultures.

What are Michael Wesch's four moves of seeing?

Seeing your own seeing, seeing big, seeing small, and seeing at all.

How does anthropology transform our understanding of the familiar?

It makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar, revealing webs of meaning.

What does the term 'naturenurtural' signify in anthropology?

It refers to the inseparable entanglement of biology and culture.

What is the significance of ethnography in cultural anthropology?

Ethnography is a way of seeing and being in the world, essential for understanding how humans make meaning.

What are myths in the context of anthropology?

Powerful cultural stories that shape our expectations and perceptions, not merely falsehoods.

What does the myth that 'race is biological' imply?

It suggests a social invention rather than a biological certainty, justifying harmful practices like slavery and segregation.

What harm does the myth of 'natural male aggression' cause?

It narrows masculinity to dominance and violence, fueling patriarchy and erasing men's capacities for care.

How does the myth of 'natural monogamy' affect societal views?

It stigmatizes diverse relationship forms, including LGBTQ kinship and nontraditional families.

What is the role of enculturation in the Moken community?

Children learn to swim and dive for food, adapting their biology through cultural practices.

What is the difference between armchair anthropology and fieldwork?

Armchair anthropology relies on reading and theory, while fieldwork involves direct engagement with cultures.

What was the impact of European colonial expansion on ethnography?

It produced vast cultural archives and embedded ethnographic knowledge within the machinery of empire.

What does 'seeing big' entail in anthropology?

Using complex models of culture to place daily acts within wider structures.

What does 'seeing small' refer to in the context of anthropology?

Noticing the importance of little details and paying attention to them.

What does the term 'superstructure' refer to in cultural models?

The overarching ideas and beliefs that shape a society.

What is the significance of the relationship between friends in New Guinea?

Gift-giving strengthens relationships, while viewing money as disrespectful reflects cultural values.

What does Howell state about ethnography?

Anthropology is nothing without ethnography, linking it to core debates about meaning and power.

What is the historical significance of Herodotus' Histories?

It provided detailed accounts of different cultures but lacked fieldwork, marking early attempts at cultural description.

What is the focus of anthropological inquiry regarding concepts like wealth and health?

To question and redefine these concepts beyond their conventional meanings.

What does the term 'holistic perspective' mean in anthropology?

Seeing all aspects of culture as interconnected rather than isolated.

What marked the shift from armchair to field-based anthropology?

The Ethnographic Revolution, pioneered by Malinowski.

Who was Bronislaw Malinowski?

A Polish scholar known for pioneering participant observation and functionalism in anthropology.

What is participant observation?

A research method where the anthropologist immerses themselves in the daily life of the community being studied.

What is the goal of ethnography according to Malinowski?

To grasp the native's point of view and understand the imponderabilia of actual life.

What is functionalism in anthropology?

A theory that explains cultural practices as serving functions that meet human needs and maintain social systems.

What is interpretivism in anthropology?

An approach that emphasizes understanding the meanings people assign to their actions and beliefs.

What is the difference between thin and thick description?

Thin description records what happened, while thick description includes interpretation of its meaning in context.

What are the principles of the AAA code of ethics?

Do no harm, prioritize people over project goals, obtain informed consent, ensure anonymity and confidentiality, and maintain honesty and transparency.

What is medical anthropology?

A subfield of cultural anthropology that studies how culture, inequality, and power shape health and illness.

What is structural violence?

Systematic harm caused by social structures, such as poverty and racism, that leads to health disparities.

How does biomedicine differ from medical anthropology?

Biomedicine views disease as a biological issue, while medical anthropology sees it as influenced by history, politics, and inequality.

Who is Nancy Scheper-Hughes?

An anthropologist who studied global organ trafficking and its implications for marginalized populations.

What is the concept of biosociality?

The idea that social identities and relationships are shaped by biological factors, often leading to new forms of inequality.

What are the three bodies described in anthropology?

The individual body (physical health), social body (cultural symbolism), and body politic (political regulation).

What is multi-sited ethnography?

A research method that involves studying a phenomenon across multiple geographic locations to capture its complexities.

What does the commodification of the body refer to?

The transformation of human organs into tradable goods, detached from their personhood.

What ethical dilemmas arise in organ donation?

Issues of altruism versus coercion, and the blurred lines between gift and commodity.

How has the definition of brain death changed?

It has been redefined to expand the pool of potential organ donors, affecting when a person is considered 'dead'.

What is the significance of Malinowski's work in anthropology?

He emphasized the importance of fieldwork and understanding culture from the inside out.

What does the term 'imponderabilia' refer to in ethnography?

The small, everyday routines that shape and reflect a culture.

What is the relationship between health and culture in medical anthropology?

Health is viewed as a product of cultural, political, and historical contexts, not just biological factors.

What role does anthropology play in understanding health disparities?

Anthropologists reveal the deeper structures of inequality that produce health issues, beyond individual behaviors.

What is the impact of poverty on health according to structural violence?

Poverty leads to systemic health issues, resulting in malnutrition, unsafe housing, and lack of access to care.

What did Paul Farmer contribute to medical anthropology?

He focused on the slow, often invisible harm caused by social systems and advocated for addressing systemic inequalities.