1. Group Presentations Group 1: Jan. 28 (Humans/Primates)
Group 2: Feb. 4 (Human Origins)
Group 3: Feb 11 (Disease)
Group 4: Feb 18 (Hunter Gatherers)
Group 5: Feb 28 (Agriculture)
Group 6: Apr. 4 (Eurasia/America)
Group 7: Apr. 6 (Africa)
Group 8: Apr. 22 (Cultural Relativism)

2. Anthropology is . . .
January 14, 2005

3. Anthropology is . . .
“the scientific and humanistic study of the human species.”
Holistic
Cross Cultural
Why do we need a scientific and humanistic approach to humans?
What does it mean to be human?
Holism: past, present, future, biology, society, language, culture.
Cross Cultural: What does it mean to be human?
Must be global in scope.
Global in Scope

4. Nature and Culture Nature versus Nurture Genetics versus Environment
To be human is to always be both at the same time.
Two worlds: natural world and a cultural world.
Humans are animal and more than animal.
Most animal of habits, sex, food and toilet, are thoroughly cultural.

5. Culture Is . . . Learned (Enculturation) Shared Symbolic
Taken for Granted
All-Encompassing
Actively Used
If human life is a game, culture is the rules to the game.
Process of learning and teaching culture is called enculturation.
Have you pissed off your parents on purpose?

6. Culture can be . . . Adaptive Maladaptive
Adaptive: any kind of tool; clothing allows us to live in environments where we would not otherwise
Maladaptive: Shakers

7. Definitions of Culture
“Knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, custom and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of society.”
Note about relationship between individual and society.

8. Definitions of Culture
“A system of symbols and classifications for interpreting the world.”
Anthropology is holistic, but humans cannot fully grasp wholes. We use categories.

9. Cultural Categories Self v. Other Us v. Them
Normal v. Strange/Offensive/Abnormal
Clean v. Dirty
Food v. Not Food
Warm v. Cold
Self: individual, family, lineage, village, etc.
Us/Them: nation-state
Clean/Dirty: dorm rooms
Food: insects v. shellfish
Warm/Cold: Sudanese refugees in Fargo

10. Definitions of Culture
Stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.
That which keeps us from being as bad as we are capable of being.
Who are we and where do we come from?
Why are we here?
War of all against all—it benefits everyone if we follow the rules.
In the beginning comes next

11. In the Beginning . . .

12. Your assignment . . . Write a creation story.
Context: social, historical, ecological
Explain why something is the way it is.
No more than 2 double spaced pages.
Look at writing guide

13. Before you leave . . .
Sign up for group presentation (no more than 6 per group)
Take a Geography Quiz (Due next Friday).