Judging other culture from the perspective of ones own culture. The notion that ones own culture is more beautiful, rational, and nearer to perfection than any other.
Ethnocentrism
The fieldwork technique that involves gathering cultural data by observing people’s behavior and participating in their lives
Participant observation
Had a huge impact on American anthropology in the first half of the 20th century.
He did fieldwork on the Inuit of Baffin Island.
He said anthropologist should devote themselves through objective data and collection fieldwork.
His style of fieldwork was known as Participant observation
Franz Boas
The belief that some human populations are superior to others because of inherited, genetically transmitted characteristics.
Racism
The notion that cultures should be analyzed with reference to their own histories and values of another culture.
Cultural relativism
One of the pioneers who, worked in the Trobiand islands between 1915 & 1918. He ended up staying for 4 years due to the war going on. He established fieldwork rules.
Bronislaw Malinowski
The major research tool of cultural anthropology; includes both fieldwork among people in a society and the written results if such fieldwork. Based on intensive first hand study.
Ethnography
Feelings of alienation and helplessness that result from rapid immersion in a new and different culture.
Culture shock
A person from whom anthropologist gather data. Also known as a consults or sometimes interlocutor.
Informant
A person from whom anthropologist gather data. Also known as informant, consultant, or sometimes interlocutor.
Respondent
A person from whom anthropologist gather data. Also known as informant or sometimes an interlocutor.
Consultant
The attempt to find general principles or laws that govern cultural phenomena.
Ethnology
An ethnographic database that includes cultural descriptions of more than 300 cultures.
Human relations area files
A theoretical position in anthropology that focuses on issues of power and voice. Postmodernist suggest that anthropological accounts are partial truths reflecting the backgrounds, training, and social positions of their authors.
Postmodernism
Ethnography that gives priority to cultural consultants on the topic, methodology, and written results of fieldwork.
Collaborative ethnography
Who were the first to use armchair anthropology?
L.h. Morgan & E.b. Tylor
Rules for fieldwork established by Malinowski
- Long time fieldwork, at least 1 year
- Learn the native or local language
- Live with the natives and participate with them.
Why was boas on the cover of time magazine?
Because he was a big activist who supported racial equality.
More informed about the culture and society, willing to talk
Key informant
“Orientalism” said argued that European art, drama as well as anthropology gave a simplified distorted and romanticized view of middle eastern culture. Portraying them as timeless society full of savagery and exotic wonder.
He encouraged anthropologist to think about the ways their own status, culture shaped the view of others and how they interact with members of other cultures to produce data. Ex: multiple wives, harem, and the role of Islam.
E. Said