Exam notes

What is Anthropology?

The study of people and societies, past and present.

Herodotus

Often referred to as the 'father' of history and anthropology, known for documenting customs, cultures, and beliefs of various peoples.

The Histories

Herodotus' major work detailing the Greco-Persian Wars and the customs of various peoples.

Ethnography

A qualitative research method in anthropology that involves immersive observation of cultural practices.

Participant Observation

A methodological approach in anthropology where the researcher actively engages in the daily life and culture of the study subjects.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of understanding a culture on its own terms without judging it against the standards of one's own culture.

Colonialism

The practice by which states extend political, economic, and military power over other regions, often leading to subjugation and domination.

Imperialism

The practice of extending a nation's authority over other countries by political or economic means.

Direct Rule

A form of colonial governance where the colonial government maintains direct control over the colonized region.

Indirect Rule

A governance system where local rulers maintain their authority under the guidance of colonial powers.

Social Darwinism

The application of Darwinian ideas about evolution to society, suggesting that certain individuals or groups are inherently superior.

Cultural Evolution

The theory that societies progress through stages from 'primitive' to 'civilized'.

Franz Boas

Considered the 'father of American anthropology', he advocated for cultural relativism and critiqued theories of racial superiority.

Thucydides

An ancient Greek historian known for his critical history of the Peloponnesian War, emphasizing factual evidence and human motivations.

Dialetic of Enlightenment

A concept by Adorno and Horkheimer discussing how the ideals of the Enlightenment led to oppressive societal structures.

Foucault's Power-Knowledge

The idea that knowledge and power are interconnected, and that what is accepted as knowledge is influenced by power dynamics.

Participant Observation

A core method in anthropology where researchers immerse themselves in the community they are studying.

Writing Culture

A seminal work in anthropology that examines the politics and poetics of ethnographic writing.

The Crisis of Representation

A critical debate in anthropology questioning how cultures are represented and the implications for both ethnographers and subjects.

Cultural Translation

The critique of how anthropologists often interpret and explain other cultures in terms familiar to their own cultural context.

The Reflexive Turn

A movement in anthropology that emphasizes self-reflection, acknowledging the researcher’s role and biases in the research process.

Cultural Survivals

E.B. Tylor's theory that elements of earlier cultures persist in modern societies, influencing current practices.