ASS101 - Week 2 Seminar_default

Seminar Content

  • Reflection on Previous Seminar Session:

    • Recap of the class session earlier in the day, where all students were together.

    • Discussion of cultural perceptions and historical context regarding Western rationality, particularly the Enlightenment.

Readings Discussion

  • Key Readings:

    • "100% American" and "Body Ritual among the Nacirema."

    • Insight into Nacirema: It is a satirical representation of North Americans by spelling 'America' backward, indicating cultural practices that seem exotic when viewed through an outsider's lens.

    • Emphasis on the rational versus cultural interpretations of practices.

Cultural Classification

  • Cultural vs. Scientific:

    • Anthropology's role in understanding human categorization.

    • Discussion on how humans distinguish their world and the importance of labeling in culture.

Activities and Engagement

  • Breakout Activity:

    • Students put into groups to discuss various social classifications.

    • Emphasis on different methods of categorizing individuals: class, tribe, friendship, cultural markers related to sports, nationality, and ethnicity.

Sport Analogy

  • Varied understandings of 'football' based on personal and cultural backgrounds (e.g., AFL vs. Premier League).

  • Showcases how sports can define cultural identity and assumptions.

Classification Systems

  • Categorizing People:

    • Discussion about social markers such as accent, hair color, and regional demographics.

    • The significance of these markers in forming first impressions and assumptions about individuals.

Family Dynamics

  • Cousin Relationships:

    • Non-biology-based understanding of cousins and potential cultural variations in preferring cousin relationships as marriage partners.

    • Discussed the societal norms surrounding cousin marriage and its acceptability based on cultural contexts.

Anthropological Insights

  • Differences between social relationships (kinship) and biological explanations.

  • Critique of rationality in the context of social practices—pointing out that not all cultural practices are based on rational or scientific grounds.

Closing Reflections

  • Highlighted the contradictions in human social behavior as both rational and socially driven.

  • Encouraged further exploration and discussion about race, ethnicity, and cultural identity, especially within academic contexts.

Next Steps

  • Assigned reading for the following week: Dynamic Nominalism. Recommended sustained engagement with the material despite its challenging nature.