ANTA02H3 Chapter : CH 1-2 Anthro.docx
Document Summary
As noted in the epigraph from rupert ross, it is nearly impossible to accurately interpret people s acts when we do not understand the meanings they attribute to those acts. Egyptian hieroglyphics provide an apt metaphor for potential pitfalls of misinterpretation. Egyptian myth and history, it is likely that your interpretation says more about your own cultural context than that of the ancient egyptians. Understanding human beliefs and behaviours requires a similar attention to meaning in context. When acts are seen, but their signal-content misinterpreted, it is impossible to avoid forming inaccurate interpretations of others. Until we understand what particular acts mean to the other, we will continually ascribe motivations and states of mind that are well off the mark. In sociocultural anthropology we strive to look beyond the world of everyday experiences to discover the patterns and meanings that lie behind that world. Take, for example, the typical classroom chair with attached desk.
