Introduction to Introduction to AnthropologyAnthropology

Culture as a Central ConceptCulture as a Central Concept

By Way of By Way of Introduction: Introduction: Cheeseburger EcologyCheeseburger Ecology

How many cheeseburgers did How many cheeseburgers did you eat this week?you eat this week?

Carbon footprint: how much Carbon footprint: how much carbon dioxide we emit per time carbon dioxide we emit per time unit—day, week, month, year.unit—day, week, month, year.

Class Exercise: What is the Class Exercise: What is the carbon footprint of a Quarter carbon footprint of a Quarter Pounder?Pounder?

List the ingredientsList the ingredients What is the carbon footprint of What is the carbon footprint of

each?each? For our first online discussion, get For our first online discussion, get

ready to address those questionsready to address those questions

Findings of One StudyFindings of One Study

1 Cheeseburger 1 Cheeseburger averages 130 g.averages 130 g.

Amount per serving: Amount per serving: COCO22 equivalent is 3.06 equivalent is 3.06 kg.kg.

Energy Sources: 243 kg.Energy Sources: 243 kg. Non-Energy Sources: Non-Energy Sources:

264 kg. 264 kg. Carbon/Product Ratio: Carbon/Product Ratio:

23.823.8 Local Rating: C-Local Rating: C- Carbon Code: OrangeCarbon Code: Orange

Meaning of Meaning of Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Consumption: SUVsConsumption: SUVs

Assume 3 cheese-Assume 3 cheese-burgers per weekburgers per week

300 m people consume 300 m people consume 3 cheeseburgers/wk3 cheeseburgers/wk

Total footprint: 195.75 Total footprint: 195.75 milllion metric tons of milllion metric tons of COCO22

Equivalent to 19.6 Equivalent to 19.6 million Hummers’ COmillion Hummers’ CO2 2

outputoutput Source:Cascio, Jamais: Source:Cascio, Jamais:

Cheeseburger FootrpritCheeseburger Footrprithttp://openthefuture.com/cheesebhttp://openthefuture.com/cheeseburger_CF.htmlurger_CF.html

A Holistic Analysis of a A Holistic Analysis of a Carbon FootprintCarbon Footprint

Cattle, Feed, Transportation, Meat Cattle, Feed, Transportation, Meat Processing—all consume fuelProcessing—all consume fuel

These all increase output of carbon These all increase output of carbon dioxidedioxide

So do HummersSo do Hummers They all add up, regardless of source—They all add up, regardless of source—

cheeseburgers or gas guzzlerscheeseburgers or gas guzzlers This approach is holistic, and thus is This approach is holistic, and thus is

very anthropologicalvery anthropological

Scenario: Oil Scenario: Oil ExhaustionExhaustion Here’s another scenario:Here’s another scenario: You may have noticed that the price You may have noticed that the price

of oil has gone up from $1.50 to of oil has gone up from $1.50 to $5.00 a gallon over the past four $5.00 a gallon over the past four yearsyears

Again, we need a holistic explanationAgain, we need a holistic explanation Hubbert’s Peak and the Olduvai Hubbert’s Peak and the Olduvai

Theory are two parts of this Theory are two parts of this explanation (next two panels)explanation (next two panels)

Hubbert’s Peak: Hubbert’s Peak: Olduvai TheoryOlduvai Theory

An engineer by the name of M. King An engineer by the name of M. King Hubbert predicted that cheap oil Hubbert predicted that cheap oil would reach a peak around the 1970swould reach a peak around the 1970s

After that, oil deposits would be After that, oil deposits would be scarcer and more expensive to scarcer and more expensive to exploitexploit

Richard Duncan forecast a post-Richard Duncan forecast a post-industrial stone age (next slide) industrial stone age (next slide)

He called it the Olduvai Theory, after He called it the Olduvai Theory, after the stone tools found at Olduvai the stone tools found at Olduvai Gorge in Africa like these ones (left)Gorge in Africa like these ones (left)

Olduvai Theory: Peak OilOlduvai Theory: Peak Oil

Another scenario: Long term effects of fuel Another scenario: Long term effects of fuel exhaustion (see next slide for written timetable)exhaustion (see next slide for written timetable)

Explaining the Olduvai Explaining the Olduvai TheoryTheory This is Duncan’s timetable: This is Duncan’s timetable: A: Tool making begins (3 m.y.a.)A: Tool making begins (3 m.y.a.) B: Fire use begins (1 m.y.a.)B: Fire use begins (1 m.y.a.) C: Neolithic Revolution (10 k.y.a.)C: Neolithic Revolution (10 k.y.a.) D: Watts steam engine (1765)D: Watts steam engine (1765) E: Industrial Civilization Begins (1930)E: Industrial Civilization Begins (1930) F: Industrial Peak (1978)F: Industrial Peak (1978) G: Average Energy Consumption Falls (1996)G: Average Energy Consumption Falls (1996) H: Industrial Civilization. reaches 1930 level H: Industrial Civilization. reaches 1930 level

(2025)(2025) I-L: Postindustrial Stone Age (by 3000)I-L: Postindustrial Stone Age (by 3000)

Questions on Olduvai Questions on Olduvai TheoryTheory How would we handle the oil collapse?How would we handle the oil collapse? Could we just go back to foraging?Could we just go back to foraging? What would the environment be like?What would the environment be like? What other scenarios can you think of?What other scenarios can you think of? Be prepared to discuss these issues Be prepared to discuss these issues

this weekthis week

What Does This Have What Does This Have to Do with to Do with Anthropology?Anthropology?

What is anthropology all What is anthropology all about?about?

Your syllabus defines it as Your syllabus defines it as “The Comparative and “The Comparative and Holistic Study of Holistic Study of Humankind”Humankind”

These examples are These examples are exercises in holismexercises in holism

Global warming is a realityGlobal warming is a reality So is resource exhaustionSo is resource exhaustion

Holism: First Order of Holism: First Order of BusinessBusiness

From cheeseburgers to From cheeseburgers to SUVs:SUVs:

Every part affects the Every part affects the whole environmentwhole environment

Anthropology: Holism has Anthropology: Holism has long been essential to long been essential to fieldworkfieldwork

Anthropologists have to Anthropologists have to study study everything everything

From language (above)From language (above) To kinship to the To kinship to the

supernatural (below)supernatural (below)

Comparison: Second Comparison: Second Order of BusinessOrder of Business

Why are cultures so different?Why are cultures so different? From etiquette to religionFrom etiquette to religion Yet why are there so many Yet why are there so many

similarities?similarities? Why do the Yanomamo of South Why do the Yanomamo of South

America fight?America fight? Why and how do the Semai of Why and how do the Semai of

Malaysia avoid warfare?Malaysia avoid warfare? Why does this Semai kid just Why does this Semai kid just

want to learn to play music?want to learn to play music?

What is Anthropology?What is Anthropology?

What is anthropology so far as you What is anthropology so far as you know?know?

What are your expectations of an What are your expectations of an anthropology course?anthropology course?

This course is labeled “cultural This course is labeled “cultural anthropology? anthropology?

What does “culture” and “cultural” What does “culture” and “cultural” mean to you?mean to you?

What components make up a culture?What components make up a culture?

A Starting Answer: The A Starting Answer: The Study of HumankindStudy of Humankind

Derived from the Greek Derived from the Greek Anthropos Anthropos (“man” or “human”) (“man” or “human”) andand

LogosLogos (“logic of” or “science of”) (“logic of” or “science of”) Study of man (humankind)?Study of man (humankind)? Plato (left) and Aristotle (right) Plato (left) and Aristotle (right)

contributed a lot to our contributed a lot to our philosophy and science—philosophy and science—

Not to mention our lingo!Not to mention our lingo!

Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology

We call this course We call this course Cultural Cultural AnthropologyAnthropology

It is about the study of It is about the study of humankind as humankind as cultural beingscultural beings

Next question: What is culture?Next question: What is culture?

Culture: Culture: Anthropology’s Main Anthropology’s Main ConceptConcept

Edward Burnet Tylor founded Edward Burnet Tylor founded anthropology in Great Britainanthropology in Great Britain

His definition: His definition: “That complex “That complex whole which includeswhole which includes

Knowledge, beliefs, arts, Knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custommorals, law, custom

And any other capabilities and And any other capabilities and habitshabits

Acquired by man (both genders)Acquired by man (both genders) As a member of society?As a member of society?

Generally Accepted Generally Accepted Definition of CultureDefinition of Culture Learned (not genetic) human Learned (not genetic) human

behavior behavior Shared by a groupShared by a group As members of societyAs members of society What are the features of culture?What are the features of culture? Let’s get down to casesLet’s get down to cases

Concept of CultureConcept of Culture

All cultures have at least five All cultures have at least five characteristics in common: characteristics in common:

LearnedLearned SharedShared Patterned (Integrated)Patterned (Integrated) AdaptiveAdaptive SymbolicSymbolic

Culture is LearnedCulture is Learned

All we do, say, or believe is All we do, say, or believe is learned, as these photos learned, as these photos show.show.

Yanomamo mother is about Yanomamo mother is about to teach her daughter to teach her daughter gardeninggardening

Yanomamo boys learning Yanomamo boys learning to hunt by shooting a lizardto hunt by shooting a lizard

Enculturation:Enculturation: learning learning the ways of a culture the ways of a culture

So What’s the Big Deal So What’s the Big Deal About Learning?About Learning?

Our behavior is not Our behavior is not genetically transmitted, genetically transmitted, unlike ants/beesunlike ants/bees

Learning is not just Learning is not just conditioning like trained conditioning like trained dogsdogs

We learn the skills and We learn the skills and values of our societyvalues of our society

And apply them to new And apply them to new situations situations

Culture is SharedCulture is Shared

A group with common A group with common language and custom shares a language and custom shares a cultureculture

Groups may be as small as 50 Groups may be as small as 50 (African !Kung band, above)(African !Kung band, above)

They may comprise a nation They may comprise a nation of millions (e.g. Japan, shown of millions (e.g. Japan, shown by these schoolgirls, below)by these schoolgirls, below)

There may be subcultures in a There may be subcultures in a culture (e.g. Amish in culture (e.g. Amish in Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania)

Culture is Culture is Patterned/IntegratedPatterned/Integrated

One aspect of culture reflects One aspect of culture reflects other aspectsother aspects

They all fit into a pattern as a They all fit into a pattern as a wholewhole

Examples of integrationExamples of integration Extreme example: Mexico’s Extreme example: Mexico’s

Teotihuacan pyramid (above) Teotihuacan pyramid (above) Probably weren’t built by Probably weren’t built by

tribesmen (below)tribesmen (below) But pig feasts did fit in with But pig feasts did fit in with

New Guinea tribal culture. New Guinea tribal culture. How?How?

Culture is Generally Culture is Generally AdaptiveAdaptive

Technology generally reflects Technology generally reflects features of environmentfeatures of environment

Settled communities: usually Settled communities: usually indicate stable food supply, indicate stable food supply, such as the Aztec chinampassuch as the Aztec chinampas

Grasslands are best for Grasslands are best for pastoralism, such as this pastoralism, such as this Mongolian campMongolian camp

Cultures can become poorly Cultures can become poorly adapted during rapid changeadapted during rapid change

Culture is Based on Culture is Based on SymbolismSymbolism

DefinitionDefinition: Bestowing meaning to : Bestowing meaning to a thing or eventa thing or event

Inherently unrelated to the thing or Inherently unrelated to the thing or event itselfevent itself

Examples: Stop, yield traffic signs Examples: Stop, yield traffic signs (above)(above)

Language, such as these MayaLanguage, such as these Maya Sign or Signal: Sign or Signal: Sounds or Sounds or

gestures with self-evident meaninggestures with self-evident meaning (Arrow-shaped traffic sign)(Arrow-shaped traffic sign)

So How Do We Define So How Do We Define Anthropology?Anthropology? The Comparative and Holistic Study of The Comparative and Holistic Study of

HumankindHumankind Holistic:Holistic: Asks two questions: Asks two questions: Ethnographic HolismEthnographic Holism: Asks if, and if so : Asks if, and if so

how, all parts of a culture fit togetherhow, all parts of a culture fit together Disciplinary Holism:Disciplinary Holism: Ask how all the four Ask how all the four

subfields of anthropology fit togethersubfields of anthropology fit together Comparative:Comparative: Tries to answer the questions Tries to answer the questions

of why cultures are the way they areof why cultures are the way they are

Anthropology is Anthropology is HolisticHolistic Ethnographic Holism: Ethnographic Holism: The “fit” between The “fit” between

different parts of a culturedifferent parts of a culture Example: Warfare and feasts among the Example: Warfare and feasts among the

Yanomamö to mitigate warfareYanomamö to mitigate warfare Disciplinary Holism: Disciplinary Holism: Ask why we include Ask why we include

the following under “anthropology”the following under “anthropology” Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology LinguisticsLinguistics Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology ArchaeologyArchaeology

Holism: The Fable of the Holism: The Fable of the Blind Men and the ElephantBlind Men and the Elephant

The blind men describe the The blind men describe the elephantelephant

One touches the body and One touches the body and describes it as a walldescribes it as a wall

Another touches the trunk Another touches the trunk and calls it a snakeand calls it a snake

They cannot see the whole They cannot see the whole animal animal

So they argue endlessly So they argue endlessly what an elephant iswhat an elephant is

Blind Men as Metaphor Blind Men as Metaphor of the Social Sciencesof the Social Sciences EconomicsEconomics focuses on economic focuses on economic

man (and woman)man (and woman) Political sciencePolitical science is about is about

humans hungry for powerhumans hungry for power PsychologyPsychology is about human with is about human with

various drives: sexual, hunger, various drives: sexual, hunger, prestigeprestige

SociologySociology is about social humans is about social humans

The Problem of The Problem of SpecializationSpecialization

And so like blind men’s And so like blind men’s descriptionsdescriptions

The social sciences suffer The social sciences suffer from overspecializationfrom overspecialization

We get this caricature of We get this caricature of an elephantan elephant

Confusing metaphor with Confusing metaphor with realityreality

The body is not a wallThe body is not a wall Nor the trunk a snakeNor the trunk a snake

Anthropology as Anthropology as HolisticHolistic Culture is intangibleCulture is intangible, so in a sense, so in a sense Anthropologists (and everyone else)Anthropologists (and everyone else) Has a blindness of sortsHas a blindness of sorts And so all disagree what culture is.And so all disagree what culture is. Cultures, like elephants, cannot be Cultures, like elephants, cannot be

describeddescribed Without understanding how their parts fitWithout understanding how their parts fit Both elephants and cultures are more Both elephants and cultures are more

than the sum of their partsthan the sum of their parts

Social Science as Social Science as Caricature of Caricature of HumankindHumankind Economists see us as money-grubbing Economists see us as money-grubbing

economic maneconomic man Political scientists see us as control Political scientists see us as control

freakish political manfreakish political man Psychologists see us as neurotic Psychologists see us as neurotic

driven, sex crazed humansdriven, sex crazed humans None of these describe us as a wholeNone of these describe us as a whole Just as the blind men could describe Just as the blind men could describe

the elephantthe elephant

Where the Subfields Where the Subfields Come In: Disciplinary Come In: Disciplinary Holism Holism Physical Anthropology: Physical Anthropology: The comparative The comparative

study of all aspects of human biology, fossil study of all aspects of human biology, fossil hominids, and contemporary human variationhominids, and contemporary human variation

Linguistics: Linguistics: The comparative study of The comparative study of spoken language and its relationship to spoken language and its relationship to cultureculture

Cultural Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology: The comparative The comparative study of culture and of culturesstudy of culture and of cultures

Archaeology:Archaeology: The comparative study of The comparative study of past cultures from their material remains.past cultures from their material remains.

Tying the Four Fields Tying the Four Fields Together: CultureTogether: Culture Physical AnthropologyPhysical Anthropology: Our : Our

biological capacity for culturebiological capacity for culture Linguistics:Linguistics: the communication base the communication base

of cultureof culture Archeology: Archeology: The reconstruction of The reconstruction of

cultures of the past from our trash and cultures of the past from our trash and ruinsruins

Cultural Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology: Cultures of Cultures of the recent past, presentthe recent past, present

And of the futureAnd of the future

Tying The Subfields to Tying The Subfields to Culture: Physical Culture: Physical AnthropologyAnthropology

Our brain: Our brain: Source of our languageSource of our language Source of our tool-making abilitySource of our tool-making ability Our Lungs and Mouth: Our Lungs and Mouth: Our Our

ability to speakability to speak Our Arms and Hands: Our Arms and Hands: Our Our

ability to make and use toolsability to make and use tools Our Bipedal Skeleton: Our Bipedal Skeleton: Our Our

ability to stand, walk, and ability ability to stand, walk, and ability to do all of the aboveto do all of the above

Tying the Subfields to Tying the Subfields to Culture: LinguisticsCulture: Linguistics

We learn everything through We learn everything through language:language:

Even the blind and deaf (Helen Even the blind and deaf (Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan)Keller and Ann Sullivan)

We can think of things not We can think of things not tangible: math equations, tangible: math equations, things not present or things not present or nonexistentnonexistent

We can produce new words, We can produce new words, from blip to iPodfrom blip to iPod

Tying the Subfields to Tying the Subfields to Culture: ArchaeologyCulture: Archaeology

Comparative study Comparative study primarily of cultural primarily of cultural remains of human remains of human societiessocieties

Even stone tools are hard Even stone tools are hard to identify (above)to identify (above)

Human and prehuman Human and prehuman physical remains are also physical remains are also important important

(Did Neanderthals mate (Did Neanderthals mate with humans? (below)with humans? (below)

Anthropology is Anthropology is ComparativeComparative It involves comparison It involves comparison Between diverse culturesBetween diverse cultures That are still around todayThat are still around today Of the recent pastOf the recent past ““Ethnographic present”Ethnographic present” Between reconstructed culturesBetween reconstructed cultures Between related apes and humans (fossil Between related apes and humans (fossil

and modern) and modern) What can we learn from comparison?What can we learn from comparison?

The Point of The Point of Comparison: ScienceComparison: Science All science involves comparisonAll science involves comparison We have money and marketsWe have money and markets Tribesmen have done without Tribesmen have done without

money for millennia—and marketsmoney for millennia—and markets Yet reciprocity—exchange of Yet reciprocity—exchange of

goods and services—is goods and services—is everywhereeverywhere

What Does Comparison What Does Comparison Tell Us?Tell Us? Tribesmen usually can produce all Tribesmen usually can produce all

they needthey need We can get everything we need only We can get everything we need only

by tradeby trade Trade means markets—and moneyTrade means markets—and money Tribesmen do exchange goods—but Tribesmen do exchange goods—but

they can survive without tradethey can survive without trade

Comparison: Comparison: Anthropology Vs. Other Anthropology Vs. Other DisciplinesDisciplines Economics: Economics: Focus is on industrial Focus is on industrial

societiessocieties Sociology: Sociology: Social relations in industrial Social relations in industrial

societiessocieties Psychology: Psychology: Study of hang-ups in Study of hang-ups in

industrial societiesindustrial societies Anthropology Anthropology provides data on all provides data on all

these aspectsthese aspects Across Across all all cultures around the world.cultures around the world.

Explaining CulturesExplaining Cultures

Popular ApproachesPopular Approaches Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism Culture Bound ApproachesCulture Bound Approaches Scientific ApproachesScientific Approaches Humanistic ApproachesHumanistic Approaches

Field TechniquesField Techniques

ObservationObservation Participant ObservationParticipant Observation Open or Unstructured InterviewsOpen or Unstructured Interviews Closed or Structured InterviewsClosed or Structured Interviews Technological EnhancementsTechnological Enhancements Audiotape and Videotape RecordingsAudiotape and Videotape Recordings Aerial PhotographsAerial Photographs

Why Cultural Why Cultural Anthropology? Tylor’s Anthropology? Tylor’s AnswerAnswer E.B. Tylor—again! (1871) wrote that: E.B. Tylor—again! (1871) wrote that: ““Knowledge from remote pastKnowledge from remote past Helps us to forecast the future and toHelps us to forecast the future and to Fulfill our duty to leave the world better than Fulfill our duty to leave the world better than

we found it”we found it” Today we know more than Tylor and his Today we know more than Tylor and his

colleagues didcolleagues did Can ask more specific research questions than Can ask more specific research questions than

they couldthey could Provide some insight about the trajectory of our Provide some insight about the trajectory of our

own society—well, we would hope so anyway!own society—well, we would hope so anyway!

Why Cultural Why Cultural Anthropology? To beat Anthropology? To beat EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

We see other cultures We see other cultures through through

Our own 3-D cultural lensesOur own 3-D cultural lenses Everyone judges other Everyone judges other

cultures in terms of their cultures in terms of their ownown

This is ethnocentrismThis is ethnocentrism Anthropologists learn to Anthropologists learn to

judge a culturejudge a culture By that culture’s standardsBy that culture’s standards

Why Cultural Anthropology: Why Cultural Anthropology: To apply the ethnographic To apply the ethnographic recordrecord

To see what has been done To see what has been done about problems besetting all about problems besetting all culturescultures

To see if addressing problems To see if addressing problems in the past can be applied to in the past can be applied to today’s culturestoday’s cultures

To see what will happen if we To see what will happen if we continue what we are doing continue what we are doing now now

To see what could be done to To see what could be done to improve societyimprove society

(Ignoring the homeless as in (Ignoring the homeless as in this cartoon is not one such this cartoon is not one such solution)solution)

Scope of This CourseScope of This Course

Characteristics of CultureCharacteristics of Culture Research Techniques and Research Techniques and

MethodsMethods Biological Capacities for Culture Biological Capacities for Culture How we came to be what we How we came to be what we

are as a species (above left)are as a species (above left) Linguistics and Culture (below Linguistics and Culture (below

left) left) The Components of CultureThe Components of Culture

Components of CultureComponents of Culture

Subsistence: How People Make a Subsistence: How People Make a LivingLiving

Marriage, Family, and KinshipMarriage, Family, and Kinship Economic AnthropologyEconomic Anthropology Political and Legal AnthropologyPolitical and Legal Anthropology Psychological AnthropologyPsychological Anthropology Anthropology of the Anthropology of the

SupernaturalSupernatural Globalization and Culture Globalization and Culture

ChangeChange

ConclusionConclusion

We humans meet basic needs in different We humans meet basic needs in different waysways

Ways of getting food, shelter, clothingWays of getting food, shelter, clothing Ways of controlling ourselves (and others)Ways of controlling ourselves (and others) Ways of explaining the universe (including Ways of explaining the universe (including

what happens after death)what happens after death) Different cultures have different answersDifferent cultures have different answers Anthropological Job Description: Recording Anthropological Job Description: Recording

and explaining these differences. and explaining these differences.