ANTH 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Baraka (Film), Archaeological Culture
3 May 2018
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Lecture'3'–'The'Culture'Concept'&'Archaeology''''''16/01/18'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
• Suggested'documentary'(not'tested'on'it)'='BARAKA'
'
The$Culture$Concept$$
• Anthropological$Culture$$
o Patterned'learned'behaviour'of'the'members'of'society'that'is'passed'on'
primarily'through'language$
o Provides'context'of'meaning'&'provides'tools'for'divining'meaning'$
o How'do'you'fit'in'the'society'where'you’re'currently'living?$
o Characteristics'of'culture:$
§ It#is#shared!
§ It#is#taught#&#learned#!
• It'is'not'biologically'determined'$
§ It#changes#over#time!
§ It#is#not#random!
• Culture'is'the'culmination'of'generations'of'tradition'&'culture'!
• Plays'into'the'idea'of'how'to'live'&'what'decisions'you'can'make!
o 3'dimensions'of'culture'(though'there'isn’t'always'a'clear'distinction'between'
these'3):!
§ Material'dimension!
• Physical'residues'of'behaviour'in'a'culture'(especially'things'that'
have'recognized'meanings)!
• Material'culture'='ALL'objects'produced'or'modified'by'a'society'!
o E.g.'artifacts,'food'remains,'structures'(El'Castillo,'Chichen'
Itza,'Mexico),'cellphones,'lithics,'etc.!
o Most'important'objects'='those'used'for'subsistence'(to'
make'a'living)!
§ Normative'dimension!
• Concerned'with'the'rules'society'uses'to'evaluate'behaviour'&'
other'things'!
• How'to'live'&'how'to'make'decisions'(normative'dimension'gives'
structure'to'these'thoughts)!
• 2'components:!
o Cultural#values#!
2'
§ Beliefs'or'feelings'widely'shared'by'members'of'a'
society'about'what'is'important'to'the'society’s'
identity'or'well-being!
§ E.g.'multiculturalism,'egalitarianism,'
humanitarianism,'materialism,'freedom!
o Norms!
§ Expectations'shared'by'members'of'a'group'that'
specify'behaviour'that'is'considered'appropriate'
for'a'given'situation!
§ Norms'of'behaviour'often'seen'in'material'culture'
of'a'society'!
§ E.g.'traditional'dress!
• Personal'values'!
o An'individual’s'feelings'about'what'is'important'to'his'or'
her'identity'or'well'being!
o Doesn’t'have'to'match'up'with'cultural'values,'though'
they'often'are'similar!
o Deciding'what'to'do'is'easier'if'personal'values'&'cultural'
values'would'match'up!
§ Symbolic'dimension!
• System'of'meanings'a'group'has'for'interpreting'&'making'sense'
of'the'world'around'them'&'for'communicating'meaning!
• Language'is'most'important'element!
• Other'elements:'body'language,'cultural'icons,'collective'
memories/shared'moments!
• Ethnographic$Culture$!
o A'group'of'people'sharing'a'common'material'culture,'economy,'social'
organization,'ideology,'language!
o Usually'have'a'territory,'making'ethnographic'cultures'similar'to'“ethnic'groups”'!
§ So,'they'are'bounded'by'territory!
o E.g.'!Kung'people!
§ South'African'group,'semi-nomadic!
§ They'are'quite'isolated'from'other'people,'so'they'are'used'to'study'how'
humans'may'have'behaved'in'the'past'!
• Archaeological$Culture$!
o A'constantly'recurring'assemblage'of'artifacts'assumed'to'be'representative'of'a'
particular'set'of'behavioural'activities'carried'out'at'a'particular'time'&'place!
§ Assemblage'='group'of'artifacts'recurring'together'at'a'particular'time'&'
place,'represent'the'sum'of'human'activities'!
§ Artifact#=#any'portable'object'used,'modified,'or'made'by'humans'(refers'
to'some'aspect'of'human'behaviour)!
Document Summary
Lecture 3 the culture concept & archaeology 16/01/18: suggested documentary (not tested on it) = baraka. Material dimension: physical residues of behaviour in a culture (especially things that have recognized meanings, material culture = all objects produced or modified by a society, e. g. artifacts, food remains, structures (el castillo, chichen. Itza, mexico), cellphones, lithics, etc: most important objects = those used for subsistence (to make a living) Normative dimension: concerned with the rules society uses to evaluate behaviour & other things, how to live & how to make decisions (normative dimension gives structure to these thoughts, 2 components, cultural values. Beliefs or feelings widely shared by members of a society about what is important to the society"s identity or well-being. E. g. multiculturalism, egalitarianism, humanitarianism, materialism, freedom: norms. Expectations shared by members of a group that specify behaviour that is considered appropriate for a given situation. Norms of behaviour often seen in material culture of a society.
