3. applying anthropology
what is applied anthropology?
the application of anthropological perspectives
solve social problems
try to influence human behavior and social condition
applied anthropologists come from all four subfields of anthropology
public health
obesity, substance abuse, mental illness
nutrition
cultural resource management
upkeep artifacts, put them in museums, etc.
make sure cultural value is not broken by development.
preserve languages
the ethnographic method
armchair anthropology → participant observation → ethnography → narrative (ethnology)
ethnography - data collection
branislaw malinowski broke the armchair method and went to study with the people themselves instead of taking notes on what other people had described to him.
focus on the perspective of ordinary people
pre wwii - malinowski called his method practical anthropology
he was ethnocentric and focused on westernization
during wwii - studying the japanese, germans
post wwii - baby boom
educational system is growing
anthropology growing
1970s onward - applied anthropology: jobs with international organizations, businesses, schools
social value: helping profession
ethical problems arise
code of ethics → use/guide in practicing anthropology
respect cultural values
three roles or actions for applied anthropologists
identify locally perceived needs for change
work with local people to design culturally appropriate and socially sensitive change
protect local people from harmful policies and projects
development anthropology
equity - give people what they need instead of assuming everyone needs the same thing
strategies for innovation
overinnovation - major changes on behalf of local community
underdifferentiation - overlooking cultural diversity
indigenous models - target communities
preserve local systems and relations
fields within applied anthropology (read textbook)
anthropology and education
urban anthropology
medical anthropology
anthropology and business