anthro U1: Culture Concept Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are four subfields of Biological Anthropology?
Primatology (non-human primates)
Paleoanthropology (fossil remains)
Forensic anthropology (skeletal analysis for law/human rights)
Molecular anthropology (cell/tissue chemistry)
What does Biological or Physical Anthropology study
Humans as living organisms, comparing us to other species biologically.
Cultural anthropology was distinguished from sociology, which focused on
Western societies (“us” vs. “them” dynamic).
What is the focus of Archaeology in anthropology?
The human past studied through material remains.
What is an example of collaborative archaeology?
The Dakleh Oasis Project in Egypt, involving multiple disciplines to study human-environment interaction
Name three topics archaeologists might study.
History of the fur trade
Migration and settlement of First Nations
Political economy of French New Orleans
What does Linguistic Anthropology study?
How language reflects and shapes social life and identity.
What are key concerns in Linguistic Anthropology?
Social identity and group membership
Cultural beliefs and power systems
Bilingualism in children
Preserving endangered languages
What does Cultural Anthropology focus on?
the study of culture — learned behaviors and ideas people acquire as members of society.
What is meant by studying “common sense” in cultural anthropology
interpreting beliefs and actions people follow without realizing, to see how they shape life.
How did early cultural anthropology differ from sociology?
It studied non-European colonized groups, while sociology focused on Western industrial societies.
How is cultural anthropology changing today?
Works respectfully with Indigenous and global communities
Studies urban/industrial cultures
Includes anthropologists from colonized nations
Focuses on studying “home” as well as “others
What is Applied Anthropology?
The use of anthropological theories and methods to address real-world problems.
What are some examples of Applied Anthropology work?
Supporting Indigenous land claims
Helping refugees
Studying cultural beliefs about COVID-19 and how they affect prevention efforts
What did Franz Boas argue about human behavior and culture?
Boas argued that differences in human behavior are mainly due to cultural learning, not innate biology.
How did Boas’ view of culture impact anthropology?
It challenged racist ideas and made culture a central concept in anthropology.
