ANTA02 0113 Part 1

Week Two of Class
- Communication with students regarding syllabus and course materials available on Quercus.
- Weekly modules outline required readings and resources.

Instructor begins the class with an engaging question: "Have you thought about anthropology? Can you name anthropologists?"
Responses include:
- Jane Goodall: Noted primatologist, contributing to fields under the umbrella of anthropology.
- Edward Tyler: An early figure in anthropology, known for his work inspired by Darwin, introduced concepts related to societal evolution.
- Helen Fisher: Contemporary anthropologist specializing in attachment and love from an anthropological perspective.
- Margaret Mead: Famous for research in Samoa, regarded as a significant figure in 20th-century anthropology.
- Franz Boas: Focused on indigenous cultures and preservation; to be discussed further.
Instructor discusses public perception of anthropology, referencing popular figures like Indiana Jones.

Tutorials: Starting this week, students encouraged to attend with preparedness. Confirmations for tutorial shifts were sent to students.
Weekly Check-In: Reminders about timed online assignments and expectations for engagement during tutorials.
Assignment One: Instructions to be discussed and finalized shortly, aiming for clarity in the task expectations.
Overview of assigned readings and the upcoming topics to be discussed further in class.

Focus on what anthropologists do:
- Fieldwork: Main methodology of anthropology, discussed historically and contemporaneously.
- Ethnographies: The written accounts produced as a result of fieldwork, emphasizing the narrative form and purpose.
Discussion of different methodologies in anthropology versus sociology and philosophy.
Historical context of anthropology as a discipline, including key figures and developments.

Fieldwork Defined:
- Long-term engagement and immersion with the community being studied, involving participant observation.
- Importance of physical and mental presence in studying cultures, which distinguishes anthropology from other disciplines.
- Ethnography Defined: Non-fiction writing based on fieldwork, a specific writing style reflecting cultural contexts and observations.
Methodological Distinctions:
- Comparison with other social sciences: Sociology- surveys and interviews, Historians- written documents, Anthropologists- immersive experiences.

Early Origins:
- Discusses ancient figures like Herodotus, Marco Polo, Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Battuta as proto-anthropologists.
Victorian Period Anthropology (1850-1901):
- Emergence of formal anthropology as a discipline influenced by Darwinian evolutionary theory.
Key Ancestors:
- Edward Tyler and James Frazer:
- Advocated Darwin-influenced comparative methodologies but primarily did not conduct original fieldwork themselves.
- Secondhand accounts and comparative studies were prevalent at that time, leading to armchair anthropology critiques today.

First Fieldwork Initiatives:
- Transition from armchair anthropology to actual field studies led by individuals like W.H.R. Rivers.
- Emphasis on collaborative efforts rather than individual immersive studies.
Malinowski's Contribution:
- Pioneering figure for fieldwork methodology, particularly participant observation in Trobriand Islands during WWI.
- Importance of learning local language and integrating fully into daily life.
Boas' Influence:
- Counterpart to Malinowski in the U.S.; emphasized historical contextualism and cultural relativism.
- Challenged evolutionary comparisons, promoting unique societal trajectories and cultural histories.
- Coined "historical particularism": each society’s development is unique and requires understanding through its own context.

Cultural Relativism: Idea that cultures should be understood on their own terms without ethnocentric bias.
Ethnocentrism: The practice of evaluating cultures based on one's own cultural standards, leading to potential bias.
Applications: Importance and implications of these concepts in contemporary anthropological practices and responsibilities toward indigenous cultures.

The class will resume after a break, emphasizing the continuous exploration of culture definitions, fieldwork methodologies, and overarching questions of anthropological inquiry that challenge perceptions and behaviors.

Engage with course materials and community effectively.
Importance of fieldwork as a core methodology in anthropology.
Historical context enriches understanding of current anthropological practices and theories.