ANTHROP 2AN3 Lecture Notes - Sustainability, Dumpster Diving, Marvin Harris
13 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
Cultural systems of behaviours evolved as adaptations to certain material. Natural selection culturally that produced a taboo over time. There is more economic value to keep the cows than to kill them and sell them for meat. Why they practised human sacrifice or cannibalism is because they needed protein or fat, and many animals were not available for this bc they were not domesticated. Why people consume clay because it helps neutralize the toxins from potatoes, or create a barrier for other diseases. Food and culture- ideology, symbolism, and social power. Symbols to define ethnic, class, cultural, and gender groups. Production- what is produced and who is producing it. Preparation- who is doing the processing and the cooking. Distribution- related to political and economic organization: gifts, exchange, markets, feasts and festivals. Food is differentially allocated between different members of society.
