Anthropology

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Anthropology Questions and Answers

Distinguish between invention, innovation, and cultural diffusion in the context of anthropology.

How do anthropologists define the concept of culture? 

Compare and contrast Unilineal Cultural Evolution Theory with Historical Particularism. Explain each theory, the anthropologists associated with them, their research methods, and what, if any, flaws these theories have.  

What are anthropology and holism?

Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Explain each perspective, give an example of each, and discuss any flaws that each perspective might have. Finally, discuss which perspective is essential to anthropological research.

What differences are there between the view that people are born into a culture versus the opinion that one becomes a member of a culture through a process of learning?

Building upon Kottak's discussion give an example of essentialism and construction of indigeneity. How might it form a basis for political mobilization?

How do the Ju/'hoansi get their food?

How is anthropology relevant to your personal and future professional world?

In Questioning Collapse Errington and Gewertz take issue with Diamond’s analysis of the development of New Guinea in both of his books. 1. What is one of their most important criticisms of Collapse in relation to New Guinea? 2. To what extent is Diamond’s specific argument about highland New Guinea weakened as a result of the criticism(s)? 3. Does Diamond's weakened argument matter (in favor of or against) in relation to Diamond’s more general argument in Collapse?

What are the principal components and aspects of culture as traditionally viewed by anthropologists?

In anthropology, what is culture shock?

What differences are there between the view that people are born into a culture versus the opinion that one becomes a member of a culture through a process of learning?

How does Anthropology fit into the Sciences vs Humanities debate?

Is the author of the article "Hidden Aspects of Communication" credible? Why?

What are the different ways in which archaeologists and anthropologists date the past? 

Choose one aspect of Ju/'hoansi (also !Kung or San) culture. Identify an aspect of this culture and where it fits (infrastructure, social structure, or superstructure).

Pick a particular cultural phenomenon. What method of cultural anthropological study would you use to better understand it? 

Describe cultural relativism and explain why it is impotant in anthropology.

How do the concepts of families, kinship and descent relate to each other or "connect"?

What is the main idea of the book "Circle of Goods: Women, Work, and Welfare in a Reservation Community" by Tressa Berman?  

With regards to Anthropology, what is the difference between the sciences and humanities and how are they interrelated? 

What school of thought in anthropology can apply to "The Gift" theory by Marcel Mauss?

Regarding Conrad Kottak's anthropological definitions, compare and contrast allocations of funds for socioeconomic ends--subsistence, replacement, social, ceremonial and rent--as they occur in present day in life to their allocation as seen in a cross-cultural ethnographic study of another historical time period or place.

In the book Questioning Collapse, what do critics say in regards to Jared Diamond's arguments found in his book Collapse concerning how specific societies have confronted environmental crises that led to collapse or the threat of collapse? What are two examples of the societies Diamond and his critics argue about? What are Diamond's arguments as well as his critics' arguments?

What do you see as paradoxical about the U.S. being a neontocracy? It is in reference to the book The Anthropology of Childhood: Cherubs, Chattel, Changelings by David Lancy.

What does applied research in anthropology seek to do?

Can anyone kindly explain in simple terms how anthropologists use teeth and bone to determine age?

Why did the ancient people who would become Native Americans come to the Americas?  

What was the reason for early people to become settlers from nomadic life?

Discuss if reality be defined outside of our cultural beliefs.

Why is equality between the sexes so rare in human societies? For anthropology  

Was Dennis O'Neil a credible author in writing the article "Hidden Aspects of Communication"?

What are some different ways in which anthropologists have used the concept of culture?