Anth

Ch. 1: Anthropology in a Global Age

Q: What is the holistic perspective in anthropology, and why is it important? A: The holistic perspective considers all aspects of human life—biological, cultural, linguistic, and historical—allowing anthropologists to develop a well-rounded understanding of societies. It emphasizes interconnectedness and avoids reductionist approaches.

Q: What are the four fields of anthropology, and what does each study? A:

• Biological Anthropology: Studies human evolution, genetics, primates, and physical adaptation.

  • Primatology: A subfield that focuses on non-human primates (e.g., monkeys, apes) to understand human evolution and behavior.

• Archaeology: Examines past societies through material remains.

  • Prehistoric Archaeology: Studies societies before written records.

  • Historic Archaeology: Examines societies with written documentation.

• Linguistic Anthropology: Investigates how language influences social life and cultural identity.

• Cultural Anthropology: Studies contemporary human cultures, customs, and social behaviors.

Q: How does globalization affect anthropology? A: Globalization impacts cultures through:

• Time-space compression: Rapid communication and travel make the world feel smaller.

• Flexible accumulation: Companies move production and labor globally for economic benefits.

• Uneven development: Globalization benefits some areas while leaving others behind.

• Anthropocene: The modern era where human activity has a significant environmental impact.

• Climate change: A major issue driven by human industrialization and resource consumption.

Ch. 2: Culture

Q: What is culture, and why is it considered dynamic? A: Culture consists of beliefs, traditions, norms, values, and material objects shared by a group. It is dynamic because it evolves over time through innovation, diffusion, and globalization.

Q: Explain the difference between enculturation and acculturation with examples. A:

• Enculturation: Learning one’s native culture from birth (e.g., learning family traditions at home).

• Acculturation: Cultural exchange when different societies interact (e.g., immigrants adopting new customs while maintaining their own).

Q: What are norms, values, and symbols in anthropology? A:

• Norms: Shared rules or expectations in a society (e.g., shaking hands as a greeting in the U.S.).

• Values: Deeply held beliefs about what is important (e.g., individualism in Western societies vs. collectivism in many Asian cultures).

• Symbols: Objects, gestures, or words that carry meaning beyond their literal sense (e.g., the American flag representing patriotism).

Q: What are mental maps of reality? A: Mental maps of reality are the ways people categorize and perceive the world around them based on cultural assumptions (e.g., classifying time into past, present, and future or dividing the world into continents).

Q: What is cultural relativism, and how does it differ from ethnocentrism? A:

• Cultural relativism: Understanding cultures on their own terms rather than judging them by another culture’s standards.

• Ethnocentrism: Believing one’s own culture is superior and using it as the standard to judge others.

Q: What are the three major theoretical approaches to culture? A:

• Unilineal Cultural Evolution: The outdated theory that cultures progress through a set sequence of stages from "savage" to "civilized."

• Historical Particularism (Franz Boas): The idea that each culture develops uniquely based on its history and environment rather than following a universal pattern.

• Interpretivist Approach (Clifford Geertz): Focuses on understanding culture as a system of meaning and symbols (e.g., Thick Description in the Balinese Cockfight).

Q: How do power, stratification, hegemony, and agency relate to culture? A:

• Power: The ability to influence or control others within a society (e.g., governments enforcing laws).

• Stratification: Unequal distribution of resources, power, or privilege among groups (e.g., economic inequality).

• Hegemony: The dominance of cultural values or ideologies by the ruling class, making them appear "natural" (e.g., societal emphasis on consumerism).

• Agency: The ability of individuals to act independently and make choices within their cultural framework (e.g., challenging traditional gender roles).

Ch. 2 Readings

Q: What does Lila Abu-Lughod argue in "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?"? A: She critiques Western assumptions that Muslim women need to be "saved," arguing that such perspectives are ethnocentric and ignore cultural complexities. Instead, she calls for understanding these women’s experiences within their own social and historical contexts.

Ch. 3: Ethnographic Fieldwork

Q: Who is Nancy Scheper-Hughes, and what did she study? A: An anthropologist known for Death Without Weeping, where she examined maternal instincts and high infant mortality in Brazilian shantytowns. She explored how poverty influences emotional responses to child death and how structural violence affects health outcomes.

Q: What is ethnographic fieldwork, and why is it essential? A: It is a research method where anthropologists immerse themselves in a culture to observe and participate in daily life. It helps them gain deeper insights and reduces outsider bias.

Q: What is culture shock in ethnographic research? A: Culture shock is the disorientation and stress that anthropologists experience when encountering an unfamiliar culture.

Q: What is armchair anthropology, and why was it problematic? A: It refers to early anthropologists who studied cultures from secondhand sources rather than direct fieldwork, leading to misinterpretations and biases.

Q: How did Franz Boas contribute to ethnographic fieldwork? A: He developed salvage ethnography, which aimed to document disappearing indigenous cultures, emphasizing firsthand observation over secondhand accounts.

Q: What is participant observation, and who introduced it? A: A research method in which anthropologists actively engage with the community they study. Introduced by Bronislaw Malinowski, who conducted extensive fieldwork in the Trobriand Islands.

Q: What was Margaret Mead’s major ethnographic contribution? A: In Coming of Age in Samoa, she examined adolescent development and gender roles, challenging Western assumptions about human nature.

Q: How did Zora Neale Hurston contribute to anthropology? A: She conducted ethnographic fieldwork in the American South, documenting African American folklore, language, and culture.

Q: What is reflexivity in ethnography? A: Reflexivity is when anthropologists critically analyze their own impact on research and acknowledge their biases.

Q: What is a literature review in ethnography? A: A literature review is analyzing previous research on a topic to identify existing knowledge and gaps before conducting new fieldwork.

Q: What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data in anthropology? A:

• Qualitative data: Descriptive, non-numerical data (e.g., interviews, observations).

• Quantitative data: Numerical data used for statistical analysis (e.g., surveys, census data).

Q: What is rapport in ethnographic research? A: Rapport is building trust and relationships with the community being studied to facilitate more in-depth and honest data collection.

Q: What are key informants, and why are they important? A: Key informants are local individuals who provide deep insights into cultural practices, norms, and histories.

Q: What are field notes and mapping in anthropology? A:

• Field notes: Detailed records of observations, interviews, and experiences during fieldwork.

• Mapping: Creating spatial representations of social or environmental structures to analyze patterns within a culture.

Q: What are zeroes in anthropology? A: Unspoken cultural elements that are significant but not directly stated, requiring careful observation to interpret (e.g., avoidance of certain topics).

Q: What is mutual transformation in ethnographic research? A: The idea that both the anthropologist and the studied community influence and change each other through interaction.

Q: What is an example of mutual transformation in fieldwork? A: Michael Wesch in Papua New Guinea, where his experiences with the community altered both his own perspectives and those of the people he studied.

Q: What is the difference between emic and etic perspectives? A:

• Emic (insider perspective): Understanding cultural practices from the viewpoint of those within the culture.

• Etic (outsider perspective): Analyzing cultural practices using external frameworks and concepts.

Q: What is the "Do No Harm" principle in anthropology? A: Anthropologists must ensure their research does not cause harm to the communities they study.

Q: What is informed consent in anthropological research? A: Obtaining permission from participants after explaining the nature and purpose of the study. It is required by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure ethical research practices.

Q: What is multisited fieldwork, and why is it useful? A: Conducting ethnographic research across multiple locations to study broad cultural patterns, such as globalization, migration, or trade networks.

Ch. 4: Language and Sociolinguistics

Q: What is language in an anthropological context? A: Language is a system of communication using symbols, sounds, and gestures that carry meaning within a cultural context.

Q: What is linguistic productivity? A: The ability to create new words and expressions from a finite set of rules and vocabulary.

Q: What is displacement in language? A: The ability to communicate about things that are not present, including the past, future, and abstract concepts.

Q: What is historical linguistics? A: The study of how languages evolve over time and their relationships with one another.

Q: What is a language continuum? A: A range in which neighboring dialects gradually shift into different languages over geographic areas.

Q: What is a speech community? A: A group of people who share a common language or dialect and follow similar linguistic norms.

Q: What is the difference between phonemes and morphemes? A:

• Phonemes: The smallest units of sound in a language (e.g., "b" in "bat").

• Morphemes: The smallest units of meaning in a language (e.g., "un-" in "undo").

Q: What is the difference between syntax, grammar, and lexicon? A:

• Syntax: Rules for structuring sentences.

• Grammar: The complete set of linguistic rules.

• Lexicon: The vocabulary of a language.

Q: What is kinesics in linguistic anthropology? A: The study of body movements, gestures, and facial expressions as a form of communication.

Q: What is paralanguage? A: Nonverbal elements of speech, such as tone, pitch, volume, and pauses, that convey meaning.

Q: What is linguistic relativity? A: The idea that language influences perception and thought.

Q: What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis? A: A theory that language shapes how people perceive and think about the world.

Q: What example illustrates the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis? A: Lera Boroditsky’s research on how different languages influence spatial reasoning and thought (e.g., "How Language Shapes Thought").

Q: Who is Keith Basso, and what did he study? A: Anthropologist who wrote Wisdom Sits in Places, examining how Apache place-names reflect history, culture, and identity.

Q: What is sociolinguistics? A: The study of how language is used in social contexts and varies across different groups.

Q: What is the difference between dialect and prestige language? A:

• Dialect: A language variation specific to a region or social group.

• Prestige language: A form of language associated with power, status, and education.

Q: What is Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital in relation to language? A: The idea that certain ways of speaking grant social advantages and reinforce class distinctions.

Q: What is code-switching, and why do people use it? A: The practice of alternating between different languages or dialects depending on social context, audience, or setting.

Q: What is language ideology? A: Beliefs and assumptions about language, often tied to power and social identity.

Q: What is African American English (AAE)? A: A linguistic variety spoken by many African Americans, with distinct grammatical rules and vocabulary.

Q: What is Mock Spanish, and who studied it? A: A racialized linguistic practice where Spanish words are humorously or stereotypically inserted into English speech (e.g., "no problemo"). Studied by Jane Hill and Jonathan Rosa.

Q: What is language loss, and why is it significant? A: The decline and disappearance of languages due to colonization, globalization, and cultural assimilation.

Ch. 4 Readings

Q: What does Alim and Smitherman’s (2012) research say about Barack Obama’s speech style? A: They argue that Obama strategically code-switched between different linguistic styles to connect with diverse audiences, highlighting the role of Black Language in American politics.

Ch. 9: Kinship, Family, and Marriage

Q: Who is Zhang Alan, and what did he study? A: Zhang Alan studied sperm donation in China, exploring the ethical and social implications of reproductive technologies in a society with strong kinship traditions.

Q: What is kinship in anthropology? A: Kinship is the system of social relationships based on blood, marriage, or adoption, which structures social ties and inheritance.

Q: What is a nuclear family? A: A household unit consisting of two parents and their children, common in Western societies but not universal.

Q: What is a descent group, and how does it differ from a clan? A:

• Descent group: A kinship group that traces ancestry through a common ancestor.

• Clan: A larger descent group that claims a common ancestry but may not trace it precisely.

Q: What are the three main types of descent? A:

• Matrilineal descent: Traces lineage through the mother (e.g., Hopi people).

• Patrilineal descent: Traces lineage through the father (e.g., many East Asian societies).

• Ambilineal descent: Individuals can choose which lineage to affiliate with.

Q: What are affinal relationships? A: Kinship ties created through marriage, rather than blood (e.g., in-laws).

Q: What is the difference between arranged and companionate marriages? A:

• Arranged marriage: A marriage organized by families, often for social or economic alliances.

• Companionate marriage: A marriage based on romantic love and personal choice.

Q: What did Melanie Medeiros study regarding divorce? A: She examined divorce in a Brazilian ecotourism community, analyzing how cultural expectations shape relationships.

Q: What is monogamy, and is it universal? A: Monogamy is a marriage system where one person has only one spouse at a time. The lecture video "Monogamy, Explained" questions whether monogamy is "natural."

Q: What are the types of polygamy? A:

• Polygyny: One man with multiple wives.

• Polyandry: One woman with multiple husbands (e.g., Tibet case study).

Q: What is the incest taboo? A: A cultural prohibition against sexual relations or marriage between close relatives, though the definition varies across societies.

Q: What is the difference between endogamy and exogamy? A:

• Endogamy: Marriage within a specific cultural or social group.

• Exogamy: Marriage outside one's social group.

Q: What is the difference between dowry and bridewealth? A:

• Dowry: Payment or property transferred from the bride’s family to the groom’s family.

• Bridewealth: Payment or goods given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family.

Q: What are biological vs. non-biological kin or "chosen families"? A:

• Biological kin: Family relationships based on blood ties.

• Chosen families: Close-knit social groups that provide kin-like support (e.g., LGBTQ+ communities).

Q: What are some ethnographic examples of chosen families? A:

• The Langkawi in Malaysia: Kinship is formed through food-sharing and cohabitation.

• "Cousins" in Southall, England: Kinship extends beyond biological ties among immigrant communities.

• Carol Stack’s study of Black urban kinship networks in Chicago: Examined how reciprocal support systems functioned as extended kinship networks.

Q: What did Benedict Anderson mean by "imagined communities"? A: Anderson argued that nations are socially constructed communities, where members feel connected despite never meeting.

Q: How does Max Weber differentiate kin ties from bureaucratic ties? A: He contrasts traditional kin-based authority with modern bureaucratic authority, where social organization is based on rational rules rather than family lineage.

Q: What are some issues surrounding reproductive technologies in Israel? A: Cultural and religious debates over assisted reproduction, including surrogacy and sperm donation, in a society with strong religious identity and family values.

Q: What is the difference between family of orientation vs. family of procreation? A:

• Family of orientation: The family one is born into.

• Family of procreation: The family one creates through marriage and childbirth.

Q: How does capitalism relate to the nuclear family? A: The nuclear family is seen as an economic unit that supports capitalist labor systems by ensuring a stable workforce.

Q: What is the American Anthropological Association’s (AAA) stance on same-sex partnerships? A: The AAA supports the recognition of diverse family structures, including same-sex marriage, emphasizing that kinship is culturally constructed.

Ch. 9 Readings

Q: What does Todd (2017) argue in "Fish, Kin and Hope"? A: She examines Indigenous perspectives on kinship, arguing that kinship extends beyond humans to include water and the environment.

Q: What does Serena Nanda discuss in "Arranging a Marriage in India"? A: She explores the logic behind arranged marriages, arguing that compatibility and family background are prioritized over romantic love.

Ch. 15: Religion

Q: What is the difference between oral and textual religions? A:

• Oral religions: Passed down through spoken traditions rather than written texts (e.g., many Indigenous spiritual systems).

• Textual religions: Based on sacred scriptures (e.g., Christianity, Islam).

Q: What is a martyr in religious studies? A: A person who dies for their religious beliefs, often revered as a hero or saint.

Q: What is a saint? A: An individual recognized as having exceptional holiness and often venerated within a religious tradition.

Q: What are Émile Durkheim’s key ideas about religion? A:

• Sacred vs. Profane: Religion separates everyday life (profane) from sacred objects, rituals, and beliefs.

• Rituals: Repeated religious practices that strengthen social bonds.

Q: What is Victor Turner’s concept of rites of passage? A: Rituals marking transitions in social status, involving three stages:

1. Separation – Individual is removed from their previous status.

2. Liminality – A transitional phase where normal structures are suspended.

3. Reintegration – The individual returns with a new status (e.g., graduation ceremonies, initiation rituals).

Q: What is communitas in religious studies? A: A feeling of unity and equality among participants in a religious or ritualistic event.

Q: What is pilgrimage? A: A sacred journey undertaken for religious or spiritual significance (e.g., the Hajj in Islam).

Q: How did Mary Douglas explain Jewish dietary laws? A: She argued that dietary laws reinforce social and religious order, categorizing foods as "clean" or "unclean" based on symbolic logic.

Q: What did Karl Marx mean by "religion is the opium of the people"? A: He believed that religion distracts the oppressed from economic struggles, making them accept inequality as divinely ordained.

Q: How does Marvin Harris explain religion through cultural materialism? A: He argued that religious practices are based on economic and environmental factors (e.g., India’s sacred cow is ecologically and economically beneficial).

Q: What are Max Weber’s contributions to the study of religion? A:

• The Protestant Ethic: Protestant values like discipline and hard work contributed to the rise of capitalism.

• Secularization: The process by which religion loses influence in modern societies.

Q: What is a shaman? A: A religious specialist who acts as an intermediary between humans and the spirit world, often performing healing rituals.

Q: What is magic in anthropology? A: Supernatural practices believed to influence events, including spells, rituals, and divination.

Q: What did E.E. Evans-Pritchard study about the Azande people? A: He examined their belief in witchcraft and magic, showing how it provides rational explanations for misfortune.

Q: What did Paul Stoller explore in In Sorcery’s Shadow? A: His firsthand experience studying magic and spiritual practices in West Africa.

Q: How does George Gmelch relate magic to baseball? A: He studied superstitions in sports, showing how players use rituals (e.g., lucky charms) to gain a psychological advantage.

Q: What is the role of symbols in religion? A: Symbols convey deep spiritual or cultural meanings (e.g., the Christian cross, the Hindu Om symbol).

Q: What did Talal Asad argue about Western conceptions of religion? A: He critiqued the idea that religion is purely a personal belief system, arguing that it is deeply tied to power and politics.

Q: What did David B. Edwards study about suicide bombing in Afghanistan? A: He analyzed how religion, politics, and social conditions intersect to shape acts of violence.

Ch. 15 Readings

Q: What does Luhrmann (2013) argue in "Belief Is the Least Part of Faith"? A: She argues that faith is more about practice and experience rather than strict belief in doctrine.

Q: What does Laycock (2022) argue about QAnon? A: He compares QAnon to a religious movement, showing how it incorporates prophecy, communal belief, and symbolic rituals.