Dr Aileen Toohey
Week 4, Lecture 1
Readings:
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Monday:
Kottak, 2004: Chapter 3: Ethics and Methods in Cultural
Anthropology
Studying cultures: ‘Acirema’ (around 3-4 pages)
eReserve.
Additional reading: NOT COMPLUSORY: Introduction:
Global-Local Connections. Section: globalization.
Wednesday: Celebrating Culture. Film screening
12.30-1.30 pm - MMR, Rizal Library
2.30-4.30 pm - Ching Tan Room
Kottak, 2004. Chapter: 14: The Arts; section Potlatch
pp.214-216.
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Physical anthropologists study the interrelationship b/n
biological adaptation of human popns & enviro’t
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Boas sought to untangle ideological beliefs about different pops
‘by researching biological variation within & b/n popns.
◦ Studied impact of enviro’t on migrant popn after their arrival in the US.
Eugenics – ‘improvement’ of the genetic composition of a popn
usually thro’ manipulation of human pops.
 Popular movement in early 1920s, implemented by many gov’ts.
 Interventions incl. involuntary sterilization of the mentally ill,
persons with disabilities, poor women, poor families, infanticide
re: children with disabilities, & under Nazi Germany, persons
categorized as belonging to specific ‘races’ – Jewish popns, &
Roma popns were exterminated in death/extermination camps.
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‘Race’ – an awkward category.
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Readings: Kottak, Conrad. 2004. Chapter 4: Culture.
Boas Biography – Level 3, Rizal Library, photocopy room (2 pages)
'The value of anthropology is its power to impress us with the
relative value of all forms of culture, for we are only too liable to
consider our civilization the ultimate goal of human evolution,
thus depriving ourselves of the benefits to be gained from the
teachings of others. My whole outlook upon life is determined by
one question: How can we recognize the shackles that tradition
has laid upon us? For when we recognize them, we are also able
to break them.' (Boas)
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Questions for film: Franz Boas, The Shackles Of Tradition
What did Boas mean when he used the expression: shackles of
tradition?
What was the methodological approach he developed?
What did he mean by the term, cultural relativism?
Ethnography: Live in communities, form personal
r/ships with local people as they study their lives.
Research method entails fieldwork.
Ethnology: Comparative analysis of different cultures
thro’ identification, comparison & explanation of
cultural differences & similarities, and to build theory
about how cultural & social systems work (Kottak,
2004:64)
How did early anthropologist’s accounts of relatively
unknown cultures differ from early explorers,
travelers & missionary accounts? (See: Week 3,
Lecture 1: What is Anthropology?)
Similar to explorers & travelers, but what set them
apart were the scientific aims of anthropology.
Research approach: ‘Grasp the native’s point of view’
(Malinowski,1884-1942)
Code of ethics – context appropriate & non-exploitative
r/ships, with info gathered based on informed
consent. Anthropologists do not systematically
manipulate their subjects or conduct experiments.
Fieldwork: Direct, first-hand observation of daily
behavior, incl. participation-observation. Build
rapport & retain intimacy based on P-O. Talk incl.
from everyday to more formal conversations b/n
anthropologist & selected persons (unstructured or
structured). Sense of ‘strangeness’ considered
productive. Observations recorded in the form of
field-notes.
Emic cf to etic: emic – how local peoples think about
their world cf etic approach based on the scientific
approach that aims to provide a value-free and
objective explanation of cultural behavior & practices.
Key cultural consultants on particular areas of local life (For Boas,
George Hunt was key consultant).
Types of research undertaken:
 genealogical info (kinship & relatedness)
 life histories to document experiences, memories & cultural
change of specific persons (narrators)
 longitudinal research
 small surveys (may be informally collected)
 visual & sound recordings – drawings, maps, sound recordings,
photographs, film etc.
Traditionally undertaken by one person. Small team research
increasingly common for specific types of studies determined
thro’ changing research paradigms, funding constraints &
publication criteria.
May be problem-oriented, but anthropology usually provides
flexibility for young anthropologists embarking on their studies
(not a ‘blueprint’ that has to be strictly followed).
ETHNOGRAPHY AND SURVEY RESEARCH COMPARED
ETHNOGRAPHY
SOCIOLOGICAL SURVEY RESEARCH
If small-scale society such as
groupings of h/holds located in a
No. of villages, then study these
villages as integrated & connected
Studies a small sample of a larger
population.
Fieldwork
Impersonal; Often conducted with
limited contact b/n researcher &
survey subjects
Generally interested in all aspects
of local life (holistic).
Usually focuses on a small no. of
variables e.g. factors that influence
voting rather than totality of
people’s lives.
Traditionally conducted in nonindustrial societies.
Normally carried out in
industrialized societies.
A combination of survey research & ethnography would be used today.
Fieldtrip to visit the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwagu’l)
How would you prepare for your research trip?
What would be your research method?
What questions would you ask about the culture in
order to gain an understanding of what beliefs the
local community considered important?
When Boas was working with Kwakwaka'wakw, he
saw his work as ‘salvage anthropology’. Do you
think this is applicable today?