Unique Challenges of Living in a Global Age
As modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens we have
always been connected
• 21st Century technologies, economies, movement of
people, ideas and material culture making these
i
...
Unique Challenges of Living in a Global Age
As modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens we have
always been connected
• 21st Century technologies, economies, movement of
people, ideas and material culture making these
interconnections more apparent
• Challenge of anthropology is how to understand the
rich diversity of human life and to see how our
particular life experiences connect to those of others.
• Example, Plachimada, in rural southern India,
experienced water shortages as a result of Coca Cola
plant
What is
Anthropology?
• Anthropology: Anthropos “human”, “logos”
thought, reason study
• The study of the full scope of diversity, past and
present
• The application of this knowledge to help people
from different backgrounds to better understand
each other
Background
• Emergence of Anthropology
• 18th and 19th Century- Massive
transformations
• Quickening of long distance movement of
people, goods and information
• Ship Building, Steam Engine, Railroads,
Telegraph
• Colonization
• Cultural Contact expedited questions around
who cultural groups were.
Anthropologists Asking
Questions About
Humanity
• E. B. Tylor- English Anthropologist
• Studying Cultural Scientifically
• Comparative Method
• Franz Boas- One of the founders of American
Anthropology
• Interest in inherent value of all cultures
• The inherent value of all peoples
• Used his research to combat scientific racism of the
day
• Today anthropologists apply knowledge and research to a
wide range of social issues
• HIV/AIDS research Africa, Immigrant farmworkers US,
Street Children in Brazil
• Academic Anthropology
• Applied Anthropology http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/sma/index.php/articles/articleindex/336-edward-burnett-tylor-1832-1917-part-2.html
Anthropology’s
Unique Approach
• Challenging Ethnocentricism
• Global in Scope
• Start with People and Local
Communities
• Study People and Structures of
Power
• Believe All Humans are
Connected
Challenging
Ethnocentricism
• Definition: using one’s own culture to
evaluate and judge the practices and
ideals of others
What is Globalization and
Why is it Important for
Anthropology?
• Definition: the worldwide intensification of
interactions and increased movement of
money, people, goods, and ideas within and
across national borders.
• Often portrayed in a positive light in the
media and popular discourse
• Realities much more complicated
• Under what circumstances is it adaptive?
Maladaptive? To whom?
Globalization: Key
Dynamics
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