Cultural Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology is a branch of Anthropology that focuses on the study of human cultures, their artifacts, and their customs. This field explores the wide array of human behavior, social structures, languages, and beliefs across different societies around the world.

History and Development

The roots of Cultural Anthropology can be traced back to the 19th century with scholars like Edward B. Tylor and Lewis Henry Morgan, who were among the first to systematically study and compare human cultures. Tylor defined culture in his book "Primitive Culture" (1871) as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

The discipline evolved significantly with contributions from:

• Franz Boas, who emphasized cultural relativism and the importance of understanding each culture on its own terms.
• Bronislaw Malinowski, known for his functionalist approach where he studied how customs and institutions fulfill social needs.
• Margaret Mead, whose work in Samoa and New Guinea brought insights into the impact of culture on human development and behavior.

Key Concepts

Here are some fundamental concepts in Cultural Anthropology:

• Ethnography: A detailed description of a particular culture, often based on fieldwork where the anthropologist lives among the people being studied.
• Cultural Relativism: The principle that an individual's actions and beliefs should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture.
• Participant Observation: A research method where the anthropologist both participates in the activities of the culture being studied and observes them.
• Globalization: The process by which local cultures are influenced by global forces, leading to cultural homogenization or hybridity.

Current Focus

Modern Cultural Anthropology engages with numerous contemporary issues including:

• The impact of Globalization on local cultures.
• Human rights, gender, and sexuality.
• The study of diaspora, migration, and transnationalism.
• Environmental anthropology, looking at how societies interact with their ecosystems.

Methods and Approaches

Anthropologists employ various methods to gather data:

• Interviews and surveys.
• Observation, both participant and non-participant.
• Historical and archival research.
• Visual anthropology, including photography and film.

The approach in Cultural Anthropology often involves:

• Ethnographic immersion to understand cultural practices from the inside.
• Comparative analysis to draw insights from different cultures.
• Application of theoretical frameworks like structuralism, symbolic anthropology, and postmodernism.

For further reading:

• Annual Review of Anthropology: Cultural Anthropology
• American Anthropologist
• Current Anthropology

Related Topics:

• Ethnography
• Sociocultural Anthropology
• Applied Anthropology
• Anthropological Theory