Cultural anthropology

Cultural anthropology

1. CULTURE

   • The things people learn in order to be able to function in their society.
   • Biology Vs Culture = Human beheaviour.

2. Cultural Relativism

   • Studying another culture from its own point of view without emposing our own cultural views.
   • E.g. Clean and unclean hands.
     • Mcdonald's Big Mac adverts in the Middle East.
   • E.g. What is 'edible' food?
     • The horse meat scandal.
     • The whistling steak.

3. Human ecology

   • Cultural ecology
   • Ecosystem
   • Systems theory
     • A series of interrelationships which underlie and integrated entity.
     • E.g. Grey squirrels out competing red squirrels.
       • Positive feedback mechanism.

4. Trophic levels

   • Species interrelationships = food webs.
     • These webs have levels.
   • Producers - Primary Consumers - Secondary consumers - etc...
   • The 10% rule.
   • Humans are both primary and secondary consumers.
     • Omnivores

5. Making a living

   • Technology
     • E.g. Clothes to keep us warm.
     • Energy
       • Fuel
       • Food
   • Human Ecology
     • Humans have to...
       • Eat
       • Defecate
       • Mate
       • Capture energy
     • Communities
       • Allocation of tasks.
       • Division of labour.
         • Age
         • Gender
     • Humans as an integral part of an ecosystem.
       • E.g. Different groups in Australia.
       • The ways in which we see our environment.

6. Status and role

   • How others see us and behave towards us.
   • E.g. You can be a sister and a daughter at the same time.
   • Making a living
     • Increasing technology
     • Mobilisation of people
     • Access to resources
     • Social interaction
   • Ownership
     • Can be linked to other aspects of society such as kinship.
     • Share cropping.
       • Some groups may hand over a % of there produce in return for the use of the land.