ANTH10001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cultural Relativism, Nacirema, Medicine Man
29 May 2018
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anthropology is not a science looking to create hypothesis and test laws – it is concerned
with plausible interpretations. – interpreting does not stem simply from observation e.g.
wink/twitch. – understanding the meaningfulness of the observable acts. –thick
desiptio: udetakig patiipat oseatio ad interpretation.
functionalism: the idea that society is an organ – culture and shared norms and values hold
the separate parts together.
cultural materialism: in most cases cannibalism is a myth which functions to serve particular
purposes within societies. – used in periods of colonisation to present the indigenous as ;ess
than human.
Structuralism. – know the douglas reading.
- borders on cultural determinism.
Symbolic interactionism: - move away from humans being cognitively/ socially determined.
performative approach– develop a theory where the individual and society determine you.
The relationship between ethnicity and class. – bosnia reading/ gypsy.
Ortner – differences are biological/ inequalities are cultural.
Astuti – sex is cultural just as much as gender. – the vezo have both sex and gender – we
need to keep this distinction in personhood.
- criticised by moore.
- butler – agency. gender is performantive. – no real distinction between sex and
gender both are constructed.
- subversion is possible however it does reinforce what the norm is.
metaphors concretisebv that which is abstract – materialises the nation.
(1) Can it ever be appropriate to say that the cultural practices of others are wrong?
- cultural defence
- levy bruhl prithard and winch
-
The rationality debate.
There are three leading theorists who have suggested the extent to which it is appropriate
to evaluable the cultural practices of others.
- Levy brul
o argues that is it possible based on scientism – accord with objective reality.
o therefore it is appropriate to evaluate as cultural practices which do not
accord with reality are wrong.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o furthermore suggests that
(4) Why are foods that are considered delicious in some cultures often considered
disgusting and taboo in others?
dog meat.
the way we conceptualise food is based on the value and assumptions we inscribe on it
based on cultural beliefs.
- structuralism:
- cultural materialism
- affordance
Certain cultures consider some foods delicious, while others might consider them
disgusting or taboo. Levi-“taus theoy of stutualis poides isight ito hy this ight
be the case. To take a culturally determinist approach, it is argued that the way in which
certain foods are perceived within a culture, is primarily based on the value and meaning
inscribed upon it. Therefore, perceptions of certain foods are not based on intrinsic
qualities, but has rather formed as an outcome of its cultural inscription.
A leading theory which attempts to explain why some foods are considered delicious in
certain cultures, while
(8) Me ad oe ae ultual ostuts, ot atual fats. Discuss with reference
to: EITHER gender inequalities today OR the campaign for marriage equality in Australia.
- cultural determinism
- biological determinism
- culture vs nature
Gender is a cultural elaboration of the natural fact of sex. As it is culturally constructed, it
can be argued that the subordination of women, which has been naturalised, can be
deconstructed. – this has broader implications in gender inequalities.
However it can also be argued that the concept of sex is a negotiation and a culturally
agreed upon notion based in scientism – this is not universal.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Anthropology is not a science looking to create hypothesis and test laws it is concerned with plausible interpretations. Interpreting does not stem simply from observation e. g. wink/twitch. Understanding the meaningfulness of the observable acts. Used in periods of colonisation to present the indigenous as ;ess than human. Symbolic interactionism: - move away from humans being cognitively/ socially determined. performative approach develop a theory where the individual and society determine you. Ortner differences are biological/ inequalities are cultural. Astuti sex is cultural just as much as gender. The vezo have both sex and gender we need to keep this distinction in personhood. criticised by moore. There are three leading theorists who have suggested the extent to which it is appropriate to evaluable the cultural practices of others. Certain cultures consider some foods delicious, while others might consider them disgusting or taboo. Levi- t(cid:396)aus(cid:859) theo(cid:396)y of st(cid:396)u(cid:272)tu(cid:396)alis(cid:373) p(cid:396)o(cid:448)ides i(cid:374)sight i(cid:374)to (cid:449)hy this (cid:373)ight be the case.
