Unit 1 Understanding Culture
Overview
This course focuses on cultural anthropology, but we will begin our study by introducing how this subfield fits into the broader discipline of anthropology alongside archaeological anthropology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Research findings from all four of these sub-fields, based on anthropological methods, can be applied to solve practical problems in public and private sectors, such as business and health.
This unit describes the qualities of an anthropological approach, offers a broad definition of culture, and introduces ethnographic fieldwork. A video depicting one anthropologist’s initial experiences in a new culture illustrates how making connections can lead to new insight. The final learning activity in the unit challenges you to meet someone new and to learn something of their story.
Topics
This unit is divided into the following topics:
- What is Anthropology? What is Cultural Anthropology?
- What is Culture?
- Asking Questions, Making Connections, and Trying New Things
Learning Outcomes
When you have completed this unit, you should be able to:
- Describe some basic characteristics of culture
- Define ethnocentrism and explain how ethnocentrism can block people from understanding others and can lead to unjust practices
- Analyze ways in which anthropology can be used to address current social, political, and economic issues
- Explain the relationship between participant observation and cultural relativism
- Inquire about someone’s story, and present this in a photo
Activity Checklist
Here is a checklist of learning activities you will benefit from in completing this unit. You may find it useful for planning your work.
Learning Activities
- Read Chapter 1 from your textbook
- Watch and Reflect – Symbols, Values, and Norms
- Watch and Reflect – Learn a new culture
- Read, Watch, and Reflect – An Invitation to Anthropology
Assessment
- In this course you demonstrate your understanding of the course learning outcomes in different ways, including papers, projects, discussions and quizzes. Please see the Assessment section in Moodle for assignment details and due dates.
Note: Learning activities in this course are ungraded unless specified. They are designed to help you succeed in your assessments in this course, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them.
1.1 What is Anthropology? What is Cultural Anthropology?
Anthropology is an attempt to systematically study and document cultural differences. This unit’s readings and videos explain how anthropology has developed as a social science and how it seeks to answer some big questions about how humans live and interact.
Activity: Read and Reflect
Read chapter 1 from your textbook. After reading the chapter, take a moment to consider the following question:
- What is an example of a belief, practice, or symbol from your own culture that you think would be interesting to study anthropologically? What could potentially be learned through studying this example?”
Be prepared to share your thoughts and insights with other members of the class.
1.2 What is Culture?
Culture consists of material and non-material elements and depends upon a shared system of symbols for successful communication and social interaction. Perhaps the most obvious symbol is language, but there are non-verbal symbols as well, such as physical gestures. Symbols convey shared meaning for those within the culture, but these same symbols might be nonsensical or convey a different meaning entirely within a different cultural setting. Similarly, there are formal and informal norms, social codes, that establish appropriate behaviour within a given group. Just as most symbols are not universally understood, cultural norms differ from culture to culture. Cultural values and the ways in which these are realized within a society also look different.
Activity: Watch and Reflect
Watch the following two videos – after watching these videos, consider the question below:
Watch this video, “Symbols, Values & Norms” for a good overview of these about material vs. non-material culture a discussion of the components that comprise culture. cultural components.
This first video provides a good comparison of a material vs a non-material culture. It also discusses the components that comprise culture.
Watch: Symbols, Values & Norms: Crash Course Sociology #10
This second video provides some examples of how cultural norms and values differ.
Watch: Learn a new culture | Julien S. Bourrelle | TEDxArendal
After watching this video, consider the following:
Bourrelle concludes: “Challenge yourself to see the world in the perspective of others; challenge yourself to be more aware of your own biases, of your own expectations, and in the way you perceive other people’s behaviours. If we all do this, we’re going to solve some of the biggest challenges our societies and generation is facing.”
Questions to Consider
- How may your own “cultural lenses” lead you to misinterpret the words or actions of someone from a different culture? Be prepared to share your thoughts and insights with other members of the class.
1.3 Asking Questions, Making Connections, and Trying New Things
In the previous section, you saw how when Wesch started asking questions and making connections, his experience in the new culture shifted significantly. Some level of risk is required to step out of your comfort zone. This final section sets you up to take a risk yourself: talking to a stranger!
Activity: Read, Watch, and Reflect
Read this passage and watch this video to learn how Michael Wesch began his own journey into anthropological fieldwork. You will see how terms from the Perspectives chapter, such as ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, culture shock and participant observation, factor into Wesch’s narrative. As you watch, consider how you can apply some of the themes and ideas to your own anthropological journey.
- An Invitation to Anthropology Be prepared to share your thoughts and insights with other members of the class.
Assessment
Refer to the course schedule for graded assignments you are responsible for submitting. All graded assignments, and their due dates, can be found on the “Assessment” tab.
In addition to any graded assignments you are responsible for submitting, be sure to complete all the Learning Activities that have been provided throughout the content - these are intended to support your understanding of the content.
Checking your Learning
Before you move on to the next unit, you may want to check to make sure that you are able to:
- Describe some basic characteristics of culture
- Define ethnocentrism and explain how ethnocentrism can block people from understanding others and can lead to unjust practices
- Analyze ways in which anthropology can be used to address current social, political, and economic issues
- Explain the relationship between participant observation and cultural relativism
- Inquire about someone’s story, and present this in a photo