Anthropological studies and social problems

Discussion requirements:

How can anthropological studies be used to help understand and deal with modern social problems? Give at least one example of how an anthropologist might help solve a social problem that exists today.

Response:

The study of humankind is such a huge undertaking. The amount of variables that exist with in just a single family are enormous when comparing it to the family next door. And today, the very concept of family is undergoing a reconstruction; or at least a redfining of what is family. What I find most intriguing is anthropology's search to understand the whys of the past to help us anticipate the destinations of the future.

For example: Polygamy - does it have a place today in our society? Anthropology can seek to understand the impact the polygamist family framework might have had at times in the past and extrapolate its benefits and consequences for today. Right now, I don't think anthropology can solve social problems but rather sheds light on potential outcomes of our choices today based on the choices of the past. Anthropolgical study of same sex marriage in ancient Greece may provide some insight into how the United States of America might mold its society to allow for this new familial framework to exist. However, it could also expose potential dangers to a society that embraces the practice and what the United States of America is getting itself into if same-sex marriage becomes a social norm. (Please keep in mind I'm not arguing the rights/wrongs of eith polygamy or same-sex marriage. They're just two examples I picked.)

But here's the real issue, in my opinion: as we study the past and relate it to the present, can we be unbiased and open to the potential future anthropological studies forecast? When voices from the dust whisper or shout to us, are we really listening? I'm thinking of the parent-child analogy where the findings of anthropology are the parent and we, the students of anthropology, are the child.

Diversity in anthropolgy

Discussion requirements:

Discuss how ethnology, anthropological linguistics, archaeology, and physical anthropology each study change in human beings and human culture over time.

Response:

Ethnology is essentially the study of culture. Culture is what an individual picks up from their society. So, ethnology seeks to understand the practices, habits, rituals an so forth, of a society.

Anthropological linguistics specialize in language and its mode of transmission. They seek to understand how it is that a common culture can be subdivided by different languages. And what the impact of this subdivision is on the future of the various languages. Or the opposite could be true. Why do two different cultures use the same language. It has been said that England and America are two nations divided by a common language.

Archeology is similar to ethnology but looks at the remnants of past cultures to discern how and why people lived the way they did. As explained in the PowerPoint, it is not the seeking of fossils but rather the things that were discarded, abandoned or simply left behind by people.

Physical anthropology looks at the physical evolution of the body. It attempts to identify stages of development and the reasons for such changes. For example, people who carry things on their had-do they have flatter parietal bones of skull? What about those people who lived in cold environments-were they hairier than those from warmer climates?

Pseudogenesis,again

So, I started a blog back in 2006 and got paranoid about having a webprint and putting myself out there. But I've come to realize, that I like writing and having people comment on my writing. So I'm gonna do this again. Hence the title of this post. I'll probably pull from my classes I'm taking for discussion topics. At least this semester anyway. I'm taking a cultural anthropology course and I'm curious to see what others outside the class think about the discussion topics from there.

And why the title of the blog? Since I've done a 180 from transportation and am going into nursing I really am reinventing who I am. In a way. But more than that, I think we are constantly reinventing ourselves. Some days more than others and sometimes with greater effect than at other times.

Anyway, I'm thinking this might also be sort of therapeutic for me and maybe, just maybe, might help me be a better writer. Someday I want to write a book. Maybe this will be the springboard.

Thanks for reading and please post comments.