ANT 2000, Introduction to Anthropology, Week 2, Spring 2004

Anthropological Perspective (Part Two)

“The diversity of focus in anthropology means that it is earmarked less by its particular subject matter than by its perspective.” The five points of the AP are:

1. Cross-cultural. AP affirms that we will gain more insight into any question by examining it cross-culturally, than by only looking at it within a single culture. Examples: 1) Wasson’s study of use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in India and Mexico; 2) Study of population growth and control in USA, Mexico, China.
2. Inter-disciplinary. Anthropologist work as part of interdisciplinary teams, or draw on information from a variety of disciplines, to solve problems and investigate theories. Examples: Soma case: literature, mythology, linguistics, pharmacology.
3. Case Study/Field Work. In contrast to other social sciences, AP believes that in-depth immersion of the researcher in another culture, typically as a “participant observer,” is essential to resolving questions about that culture. Examples: 1) Jane Goodall’s long terms research on the chimpanzees; 2) Roger Payne’s research on whales.
4. Cultural Relativism. The temporary suspension of the researcher’s moral values and judgments in order to understand why other cultures behave as they do. Examples: 1) Urine drinking in the Rig Veda; 2) Aztec cannibalism; 3) Rise of Nazi party in Germany.
5. Holistic / Systems Approach. All aspects of a culture are interrelated. Therefore, we cannot alter one aspect of a culture (i.e., technology, economy) without affecting others areas (i.e., social organization, belief system). Examples: 1) All hunter-gatherers practice some form of shamanism; 2) institutionalized racism in the agribusiness plantation system.

Required Readings:

Article 1 - “Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamö”

Article 4 - “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari”

Article 5 - “Battle of the Bones”

It is important to keep the AP in mind when reading the assigned articles. For example, in “Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamö,” the researcher conducts difficult field work and a unique case study, which adds important insights on sex roles and status in tribal society. The study is also a good example of how cultural relativism plays out in anthropological studies.

In “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,” the importance of cultural relativism is the main focus. We see the anthropologist baffled by unexpected behavior asking his subjects: “Why didn’t you ever tell me that?” The reply is the classic, “You never asked.” The article, “Battle of the Bones,” illustrates a situation where simply conducting a study, or planning to conduct a study on Native American bones brings government officials and scientists into conflict with the values of the people being studied. This article also touches on the inter-disciplinary aspect of the anthropological perspective. The study of Paleo-Americans requires the combined talents of anthropologists, archaeologists, geologists, biomedical researchers and historians.