ANT 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: In-Group Favoritism, Ethnography, Participant Observation
Document Summary
Anthropology was originally created for united states and europe. There was a strong divide between anthropologists and colonists. Anthropologists wanted to think of theories that applied to all cultures across all countries. Morgan theorized that some countries as more or less developed and believed that. This was used as justification for slavery. Changed direction of field (looking down on primitive cultures, broad theories and questions) and rejected ethnocentric ideas. Believed in going to countries in which he was studying to learn more about each and every culture. Stressed to others that they should not judge the cultures and did not embrace racism. Culture is a sum of its parts . Cultural traits/characteristics cannot be given the same meaning across all cultures (marriage is different in every country/culture) There is no cultural universal ideas that apply to everyone. Culture is not biologically determined, but is influenced by environment. Interested in cultures and how they differ from place to place.
