2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Print

Lesson2:WhatisAnthropology?StudyMaterials
Slide1:
LessonTopics
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?
LessonHighlights

Anthropologistsat
Work
Contemporary
Anthropology:The
FourSubfieldsof
Anthropology

InterviewswithAnthropologists:
Dr.DeborahGewertzandDr.
FrederickErringtontellushowthey
becameanthropologistsandwhythey
decidedtocarryoutresearchinPapua

Physical
Anthropology:First

NewGuinea

Subfield

Dr.RegnaDarnelltellsusabout

Archaeology:

linguisticanthropology

SecondSubfield

Dr.SallyColediscussesFranzBoas

Linguistic
Anthropology:Third

andculturalrelativism
Dr.HomaHoofarexplainsthelink
betweenculturalrelativismandhuman

Subfield
Linguistic

rights
SpecialFeature:
TimelineofHumanEvolutionLookfor
theAustralopithecus(Lucy)inthe
timelineofhumanevolution

indicatesavideoclip
indicatesanaudiorecording
Anthropology:ThirdSubfield(cont'd)
CulturalorSocialAnthropology:FourthSubfield
AnthropologyisHolistic
WheredoesYourProfessorFit?
MythofOriginStoryfromtheSolomonIslands
Part2:HistoryoftheDiscipline
CulturalRelativism
CulturalRelativism(cont'd)
Part3:HowdoesAnthropologyWork?
ParticipantObservationinHoniara
Fieldwork
Ethics

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

1/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Slide2:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?
Ahumanisticdisciplinethatstudiesthe
diversityofhumankindinitscultural
manifestations(focusesonmeanings
ratherthanmeasurements,textureof
everydayliferatherthan
generalizations)

Startedwithafocusonsmallscale
societies,uncoveringdetailsofpeoples
livesthoughsustainedcontactknown
asparticipantobservation,whichis
conductedduringfieldwork.
Goingtofarawayplacesislinkedtothe
discipline'shistoryandintellectual
premisesaswellastothe
anthropologists'ownhistoryand
interests.

Manyanthropologistsnowstudycloser
tohomeorathomeasthereasonsfor
choosingafieldsitehavechangedand
thesiteitselfmayfeedintothetopic
andtheoreticalquestionsthatone
selects.

Slide3:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
AnthropologistsatWork
Let'slistentoDr.DeborahGewertz,professorofAnthropology,AmherstCollege
andDr.FredericErrington,
professorofanthropology,TrinityCollege,Connecticut,tellushowtheybecameanthropologists,andwhy
theydecidedtocarryoutresearchinPapuaNewGuinea,acountrylocatedintheSouthwestPacific,northof
Australia.

(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length05:21)

Left:MaplocationofPapuaNewGuinea
(Source:Wikipedia)(Clickonmaptoenlarge)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

2/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Bottomleft:ResidentofBagobago,anislandinthesoutheastofPapuaNewGuinea(Source:JonRadoff,Wikipedia)
Bottomright:ScenesofcelebrationasPapuaNewGuineadefeatsNewZealandinthe2008AustralianFootballInternationalCup
GrandFinal(Source:Wikipedia)

Slide4:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
ContemporaryAnthropology:TheFourSubfieldsofAnthropology
AnthropologyaswepracticeitinNorthAmericaisalargedisciplinecomprisedoffourmain
branches:

Slide5:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

3/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

PhysicalAnthropology:FirstSubfield
Physicalanthropologists
(firstsubfield)studythe
physicaldimensionof
humanbeingsdivided
intopaleontologistsand
primatologists.
ClickonPlay

tolistentotheMP3.

1.Paleontologistsstudyhumanevolution(paleontology)=>howprehumancreatures
becamehumanbeings,theancestryofHomoSapiens.Afamousexampleisthe
discoveryinEthiopiain1974ofLucy,ayoungfemalewhosefossilremainsdateback
3.2millionyears,classifiedasanAustralopithecusAfarensis.
2.Primatologistsstudythesociallifeandbehaviourofnonhumanprimates,like
chimpanzees(withwhomweshare99%ofourbodychemistry)andgorillas,inthewild
andcaptive,andexperimentinanimalpsychologyandapelanguage.Anexampleofa
wellknowncaseisthatofJaneGoodallandherstudiesofchimpanzeesineastAfrica.
Somephysicalanthropologistsalsostudythegenomeofsocialgroupsinthehopesofproviding
cluesonorigins,migrationandgroupidentityofpopulations.
Wewilltalkaboutanimalcommunication
laterinthecourse,butinthemeantime
youcanreadmoreonbigapesand
languageinthisarticle"GreatApe
Language"fromScienceDaily.
Right:AreconstructionofafemaleAustralopithecus
AfarensisFarright:SkeletonofLucy(Australopithecus
Afarensis),Museumnationald'histoirenaturelle,Paris
(Sourceforboth:Wikipedia)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

4/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Slide6:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
PhysicalAnthropology:FirstSubfield(cont'd)
LookfortheAustralopithecus(Lucy)inthetimelineofhumanevolution.
(clickontheimagebelowtoaccessthetimeline)

Slide7:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
Archaeology:SecondSubfield
Archaeologists(secondsubfield)areinterestedinfindingobjects(bones,fire)andartifacts
(pottery,ornaments,etc.)becauseofwhattheycantellaboutthesociallifethatonceexisted
revealingwaysoflife,presenceofsacredrituals,etc.,andnotjusthousinglayouts.

Prehistoricvs.
Historic
Archaeology:
Prehistoric
archaeology
studiessocieties
thatneverleft
writtenrecords,
whereashistoric
archaeology
studiessocieties
thatdidleavea
writtenrecord.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

5/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

ArchaeologistArianeBurkefromUniversitdeMontral

StartingtodigonalowerpaleolithicsiteintheAlentejo
provinceofPortugal,2007.

PreparingadigatMinadoPaos,Portugal2007.
(ImagescourtesyofArianeBurke)

Slide8:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
LinguisticAnthropology:ThirdSubfield
Linguisticanthropologists
(thirdsubfield)are
trainedinlinguisticsand
anthropologyandstudy
therelationshipbetween
languageandtherestof
culture=>howspeech
andlanguageareusedtosignalidentityorstatus,expressthoughtsandknowledge,labelthe
worldaroundthem,etc.
Throughcomparativemethods,thiscanprovideinformationonmigrationandhow
peoplewithoutwritingsystemswererelatedinthepast.
Alsointerestedinbirthanddeathoflanguages,languageand
gender/nationalism/ethnicity/socialclass,ethnographyofcommunication,howthe
contextofcommunicationaffectsthechoiceoflanguageinanyspeechcommunity=>
whatissaidtowho,whenitissaidandhowitissaid.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

6/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

(Clickonmaptoenlarge)

Above:AnthropologistRogerKeesingrecordingchildrenplayingmusicinKwaio,SolomonIslands,1989
(PhotobyC.Jourdan).Map:SolomonIslandsasof1989(Source:U.S.CentralIntelligenceAgency)

Slide9:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
LinguisticAnthropology:ThirdSubfield(cont'd)
Letslistento
Dr.RegnaDarnelltellus
moreaboutlinguistic
anthropology.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length02:21)

WhenyoulistentoDr.Darnellsinterviewpayattentiontothefollowing:
1.TheroleofFranzBoasinestablishingLinguisticAnthropologyasapartofanthropology
2.ThefocusoflinguistsonphilologyandoflinguisticanthropologistonAmerindian
languages
3.Theformalpropertiesoflanguageandhowusefultheyaretotracktheeffectoftimeon
languagechangeandlanguagecontact

Slide10:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
CulturalorSocialAnthropology:FourthSubfield
Culturalandsocialanthropologists(calledethnologyinEurope)(fourthsubfield)oftenstudy
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

7/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

contemporarysocietiesanywhereintheworldandthespecializationinparticulardimensionsof
sociallife(arts,economy,politicallife,religion)hascausedfragmentation.
Topicsvarygreatly,even
atConcordiaUniversity,
andallcanbestudied
fromdifferenttheoretical
perspectives,butall
culturalanthropologistsobtaintheirdatafirsthandthroughresearchinthefield.

AnthropologistKevinTuitewiththeshrinepriest
SikoTadiauriinthevillageofMatura,Georgia,March
2005(CourtesyKevinTuite)

CommunalmealduringthevillagefeastinVaillac,
southofFrance,Summer2011
(PhotobyC.Jourdan)

Slide11:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)

AnthropologyisHolistic

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

8/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Anthropologysinterestinthewholeofthehumanconditionlendstoitsfoursubdisciplines,
studyingthediversityandtransformationsofhumanbeingsandtheircultures.Eachisan
interpretivesubfieldaimingtounderstandhumanlifefromaholisticperspectiveandarethus
taughtinmanyanthropologydepartmentsinNorthAmerica.
Thisisnothowever,standardinallanthropologytraditions
Britishanthropologyisessentiallysocialanthropology,whileFrenchanthropologyisdividedinto
threeforms:
physicalanthropology(referredtoasanthropology)
archaeology
ethnology(socialandlinguisticanthropology).Theyaretaughtautonomously.

Top:HuliWigmanfromtheSouthernHighlands,PapuaNewGuinea(Source:Nomadtales,Wikipedia)
Bottomleft:AustralopithecusAfarensisskullintheMuseumofNaturalHistoryinNYC(Source:FlickrphotobyLeKriz)
Bottomright:Peruvianindigenouspeoplelearningtoread(Source:Wikipedia)

Slide12:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
WheredoesYourProfessorFitIn?
Listentoyourprofessorexplainhowshefitsinto
anthropology.
(VideoLength01:24)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

9/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

AnthropologistChristineJourdan
inKwaio,SolomonIslands,weavingabasket,
1995(CourtesyDr.DavidAkin).

Slide13:
Part1:WhatisAnthropology?(cont'd)
MythofOriginStoryfromtheSolomonIslands
HereisanexcerptofthecreolelanguageoftheSolomonIslands.ItiscalledPijinandisnow
spokenthroughoutthecountry.Thegrammarisverysimilartothatofthelocallanguages,but
80%thevocabularycomesfromEnglish.
ListentoalocalmythoforigintoldtomebyCeciliaSaako,a57yearoldwoman
fromtheSolomonIslands.CeciliaisfromoneofthePolynesianoutliersinthe
Solomons.Pijinisasecondlanguageforher.Shecanneitherreadnorwrite.
Ceciliaisawidow:thoseofuswhoknowherculturecantellthatsheisawidow
becauseherhairisshortandherclothesareoldanddirty,asisrequiredby
tradition.Inbrief,sheisinmourning.
AsyoulistentoCecilia,readthetextofthestoryandseeifyoucanunderstand
someofitbeforelookingatthetranslation.
Transcriptionandtranslation

ofCecilia'sstory.

StudentsinterestedinOntongJava,andontheeffectofclimatechangeonOntongJava,canvisit
thefollowingwebsites:
OntongJava:ThesinkingrealityofclimatechangeinthePacific,DW.com
OntongJavaAtoll,Wikipedia

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

10/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Slide14:
Part2:HistoryoftheDiscipline
Listentoyourprofessor
explainthe
"historyofthediscipline".
Chapter1inthe
textbookprovidesa
briefsummaryofhow
anthropology
appearedand
evolved,foundedin
19thcenturyEurope
whenevolutionary
socialtheorywasan
importantscientific
paradigm.

(VideoLength01:42)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Itwasbelievedthat
societiesdevelopedin
easilyobserved
stagesthisfalse
assumptionput
Westernsocieties
aheadofallothers
servingasjustification
formanyactsof
decimationorforced
socialtransformations
andthecolonization
ofmuchoftheworld
byEuropean
countries.
Ethnocentrism:the
beliefthatthemoral
standards,belief
systems,arts,etc.of
one'sownsocietyare
superiortothoseof
othersocieties.
Commontosome
extent,ameasureof
ethnocentrismcanbe
proofofsuccessful
socializationand
enculturationofthe
individualand
contentment.An
extremepresenceis
rejectedby
anthropologyand
leadstointolerance.

Slide15:
Part2:HistoryoftheDiscipline(cont'd)

CulturalRelativism
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

11/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

FranzBoas's
workbest
representsthe
beginningof
American
anthropology
andthereactiontoevolutionaryanthropologyatthebeginningofthe20thcentury.
Duetocolonialism'sdestructionofmanysocieties,BoasandstudentslikeMargaret
MeadandRuthBenedictthoughttorecordhumanculturesbeforetheydisappeared.This
becameknownassalvageanthropology.
Culturalrelativismunderstandssocietiesintermsoftheirownlogicratherthanranking
orjudgingthembyoutsidestandards,butthisideamustbeexaminedcarefully.

Left:FranzBoas,oneofthepioneersofmodernanthropology,oftencalledthe"FatherofAmericanAnthropology"(circa1915)
(Source:theCanadianMuseumofCivilization,Wikipedia)
Centre:MargaretMeadinthefieldPacificislands(Copyright:LibraryofCongress,HumanNatureandthePowerofCulture)
Right:RuthBenedictin1937,Americananthropologist(Source:LibraryofCongress.NewYorkWorldTelegram&SunCollection,
WorldTelegramstaffphotographer,Wikipedia)

Slide16:
Part2:HistoryoftheDiscipline(cont'd)
CulturalRelativism(cont'd)
Let'slistentoDr.SallyCole,Department
ofSociologyandAnthropology,Concordia
University,discussFranzBoasand
culturalrelativism.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length16:24)

Nextlistento
Dr.Homa
Hoofar,
Departmentof
Sociologyand
Anthropology,ConcordiaUniversity,explainthelinkbetween
culturalrelativismandhumanrights.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

12/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

Slide17:
Part3:HowdoesAnthropologyWork?
Listentoyourprofessor
explain
"howanthropologyworks."
Participant
observation:Living
alongsideyour
participants(the
peopleyouare
studying)isacrucial
partofyourfieldwork
aswellastaking
notesofallyour
observations.
Interviewsarealsoan
importantpartofthe
researchprocess,
allowingfurther
understanding
throughindepth
questionswith
individualsandare
thusanimportanttool
foreliciting
information.

(VideoLength06:25)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Archivescanalsobe
helpfulforfinding
informationonthe
historyand
backgroundofthe
areaaswellas
demographicsand
statistics.
Useoftoolssuchas
recorders,camcorders
andcamerasinthe
processofgathering
audioandvisual
materialallows
interviewstobeeasily
capturedand
transferred.
Checkoutthisexcerpton
languageuseinaparticular
familyfromyourprofessor's
fieldnotes

Slide18:
Part3:HowdoesAnthropologyWork?(cont'd)
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

13/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

ParticipantObservationinHoniara
Becausepartoftheresearchinvolvesthe
transmissionoflinguisticknowledgeinfamilies,
itisimportantthatIlivewithfamiliesandsee
howthisisdone.
DuringmylasttwofieldtripsinHoniarain2007
2008,Ilivedwithtwodifferentfamilies:the
FurauandtheWame.InthecaseoftheFurau,
threegenerationslivedinthehousehold,plus
othermembersoftheextendedfamilies.
Alltoldwewere14people.Youcanseepictures
ofsomemembersofthisfamily.Whilelivingwith
them,Isharedtheirlife,helpingthemwith
cooking,shopping,takingcareofthechildren,
cleaning,participatinginfamilyactivitiesonthe
weekendandintheevenings,andattending
churchorotherevents.

JanetFifi'iandherchildren,May2015,Honiara,Solomon
Islands(Photo:C.Jourdan)

CalvinareadsastorytohergrandmotherCeciliawhoisnot
literate,Honiara,2007(Photo:C.Jourdan)

Dr.Jourdan,thenM.AstudentJohanneAngeli,andtheir
friends,NettiFifi'iandTassieFurau(Photo:C.Jourdan)

Slide19:
Part3:HowdoesAnthropologyWork?(cont'd)
Fieldwork
Fieldworkisnotaneasyprocessandsuccessdependsontheacumen(insight/wisdom)
andindustriousnessoftheresearcher,thesoundnessoftheresearchprojectandon
personalqualities.
Fieldworkoftentakesanthropologistsawayfromlovedonesand/orintocultural
contextsthatrequireadjustmenttonewwaysofbeing,talkingandetiquetteandnew
timetables,forcingthemoutoftheircomfortzones.
Whenresearchersarebroughtintoworldssodifferentfromtheirowntheycan
experiencecultureshockaccompaniedbyfrustrationanddifficultiesadjusting.Itis
importanttobeabletorecognizethisasitcanoccurunexpectedly.
Asfellowhumansandasscientists,anthropologistshavemoralandprofessional
obligationstowardsthepeopletheyworkwith.Thesearelaidoutinacodeofethics.In
Canada,researchersarerequiredtorespectthefollowingCodeofConduct:Ethical
ConductforResearchInvolvingHumans.
Chapter2explainsthatmanyanthropologistsnowworkathomeorinWesternsocieties.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

14/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

ConversationinKomuvaoluvillage,SolomonIslands
(PhotobyC.Jourdan,1997)

Slide20:
Part3:HowdoesAnthropologyWork?(cont'd)
Ethics

Therelationshipcreatedwiththe
peopleanthropologistsworkwith
(establishingrapport)isimportant.
Arelationshipofmutualrespect
andtrustaidsinproductive
research.
Therelationshipdependsonthe
anthropologistspeopleskillsand
traits(intellectualhonesty,
patience,tact,humour,
independence,care).
Anthropologistshavemoral
obligationstowardsthepeoplethey
studyandthesearedetailedina
codeofethicswehaveobligations
asbothfellowhumansandas
scientists.

Serafina,CalvinaandAndreareadingthetraditional
storiesfrommybookinHoniara,2007
(Photo:C.Jourdan)

Asfellowhumansandasscientists,
anthropologistshavemoralandprofessionalobligationstowardsthepeopletheywork
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

15/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 2: What is Anthropology? (Print Version)

with.Thesearelaidoutinacodeofethics.InCanada,researchersarerequiredto
respectthefollowingCodeofConduct:
http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/archives/tcpseptc/docs/TCPS%20October%202005_E.pdf
Athirdobligation(lessmentioned)isthereturnofdataandresultsoftheresearchto
peoplewhohaveparticipated(bysendingcopiesofinterviews,transcriptionsand
picturestoindividuals,groups,archivesandmuseumsorsendingcopiesofthearticles
orbookspublished).

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=2&courseName=introduction_culture

16/16

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Print

Lesson3:Culture,CulturalChangeandGlobalizationStudyMaterials
Slide1:
LessonTopics
Part1:TheConceptof
LessonHighlights

Culture
Definitionsof
Culture

InterviewswithAnthropologists:
Dr.BambiSchieffelinandDr.Elinor
Ochstelluswhattheymeanby

VariousApproaches
HowdidCulture

languagesocialization

Begin?

Dr.VeredAmitexplainswhatshe

CultureisLearned

meansbyyouthculture
Dr.PierreBeaucageexplainscultural

CultureisSymbolic

change
Dr.DeborahGewertzandDr.
FredericErringtonexplaintheimpact
thatcolonizationandurbanizationhave
hadonthepeopleofPapuaNewGuinea

CultureisShared
OneSociety,
DifferentValues
SocialCultural
Diversity

Dr.Fosterexplainswhymanypost
colonialstatesarepoliticallyand

Subcultures

economicallyweak

YouthCulture

Dr.PierreBeaucageexplains
colonialismandmodernity

Part2:CultureChange

Dr.JonathanFriedmanandDr.
RobertFosterexplainwhattheymean

WhatisChanging?
CoreCultural
Elementsand
CulturalChange

byglobalization
SpecialFeature:
DancinginaPolynesiansettlement
videotakenattheLordHowe

ChangesNot
Linkedto

settlementinHoniara

Technology
CaseStudy:
Dancingina
Polynesian
Settlement
IssuesofIdentity

indicatesavideoclip
indicatesanaudiorecording
indicatesaPDF

AmidstChange
FourModelsofCulturalInteraction
Colonization
EuropeanColonization
ColonizationandPeoplesLives
PostColonialPolitics
ColonialismandModernity
Part3:Globalization
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

1/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

GlobalizationandSocialChange
FinalThoughts

Slide2:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture
Listentoyourprofessorexplainthe
conceptofculture.
(VideoLength01:46)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:Graffitiartist(Source:AndyCiordia,Flickr)
Below:Classicalorchestraofmusicians,918yearsofage
(Source:S'mee,Flickr)

Slide3:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
DefinitionsofCulture
Whatdoanthropologistsmeanbyculture?
Letsnotethatearlydefinitionsof
culturefocusedontheaggregation
ofevents,thingsandsystemsof
thoughtsthatencompassedand
guidedhumanbehaviour.
Needlesstosay,notallsegments

Aclassicdefinitionwas
proposedbyEdwardTylor,a
19thcenturyBritishanthropologidy,
whowrotein1871that:

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

2/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

ofEdwardTylor'sdefinitionhave
withstoodthetestoftime.
Anthropologiststodayarestill
consideringculturesascomplex
wholes,buttheywouldprobably
notrefertomanbuttohumans,
theywouldprobablynotequate
culturewithcivilizationasthis
wordconnotesparticularcultural
traits(suchaswritingsystems,
centralizedstates,etc)thatarenot
foundinallsocieties.

Cultureorcivilizationisthat
complexwholewhichincludes
knowledge,belief,art,law,morals,
customs,andanyothercapabilities
andhabitsacquiredbymanasa
memberofasociety.
Left:EdwardBurnettTylor(Source:
EncyclopaediaBritannicaonline)

Itisfairtosaythatthedominantdefinitionofculturehaschangedthroughoutthehistoryof
anthropologyandthatnotallanthropologistsagreeonwhatitis.Therearemanywaysof
understandingthisconcept.
Variousdefinitionsofculturebydifferentscholars:
Thelearnedbehaviorsandsymbolsthatallowpeopletoliveingroups.Theprimary
meansbywhichhumansadapttotheirenvironments.Thewayoflifecharacteristicofa
particularhumansociety.(SerenaNandaandRichardWarms,2002:412)
Thelearnedsystemofbeliefs,feelings,andrulesforlivingaroundwhichagroupof
peopleorganizetheirlife.(RichleyCrapo,2002:492)
Distinctivelyhumantransmittedthroughlearningtraditionsandcustomsthatgovern
behaviorandbelief.(ConradKottak,2002:501)
Thesystemofknowledgemoreorlesssharedbymembersofasociety.(Roger
Keesing,1981:509)

Slide4:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
VariousApproaches
Therangethatexistsinthedefinitionsofcultureisobviouslylarge.Butdonotbemistaken.Itis
notthatanthropologistsdisagreefundamentallyonwhatcultureis.Farfromit.Buttheirtakeon
itvarieswiththetheoreticalapproachestheyprefer.Forinstance,thoseanthropologistscalled
interpretivewillfocusonthesymbolsandthoughtsofaculturalgroup.Others,suchthosecalled
materialistswillfocusonthelearnedbehavioursandlifestylesofpeoples.Howeverdifferenttheir
approachesmaybe,allanthropologistsagreethatculturereferstolearned(andsomewhat
shared)patternsofbehaviourandthought.
Reviewthedifferent
schoolsofthoughtthat
haveexistedthroughout
thehistoryof
anthropology.Eachis
linkedtoaparticularway
ofunderstandingthe
fundamentalsofculture.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

3/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

(Source:CulturalAnthropology,Figure1.2KeyFiguresinCulturalAnthropology)

Slide5:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
HowdidCultureBegin?
Culture
emerged
throughgroup
formations
andthe
development
oflanguage
andtheability
touse
symbols.

ClickonPlay

tolistentotheMP3.

Cultureasameansofaddressingnatural/socialneedsthroughasystemofrules.
Humanneedsarediverseandcomplexandaccordingly,soisculture.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

4/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Left:CameltradersinfrontofthePyramids
Right:NativeAmericansperformingaritualdance
(Sourceforboth:MicrosoftClipArt)

Slide6:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
CultureisLearned
Listentoyourprofessorexplain
howcultureislearned.
(VideoLength03:26)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

5/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Above:Bowing,atraditionalgreetinginJapanesesociety
(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)
Below:Conventiondictatesthattwoplayersshakehands
attheendofamatch(Source:Wikipedia)

Slide7:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
CultureisLearned(cont'd)
Conceptions
about
gender
rolesare
symbolic,
theycan
varyfrom
societyto
societyand
theychange
overtime.
Formoreinformation,listentoDr.BambiSchieffelinfromNew
YorkUniversityandDr.ElinorOchsfromUCLA.BothSchieffelin
andOchsareworldrenownedanthropologistswhopioneeredthe
fieldoflanguagesocialization.Inthisexcerpt,theytelluswhat
theymeanbysocialization.

(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length04:00)

Slide8:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
CultureisSymbolic
Listentoyourprofessorexplainhow
cultureissymbolic.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

6/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

(VideoLength01:29)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:Churchillwavesapeacesigntocrowdsonthe
dayhebroadcasttothenationthatthewarwith
Germanyhadbeenwon,May8,1945(Source:British
Government,Wikipedia)
Below:AntiWarprotester,Washington,DC,2005
(Source:danny.hammontree,Flickr)

Slide9:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
CultureisShared
Sharingof
culture
reflectedin
the
socialization
ofmembers
inwaysthat
contributetounderstandingofcommonrules,meaningsandbehaviours.
Cultureassharedallowsformutualinterpretations,symbolicmeanings,messagesand
intentionstoflow.
ExamplesofSharedCultures

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

7/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Femalegraffitiartists
(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)

Streetkids,PhnomPenh
(Source:Flickrphotobynimboo)

YoungwomenintheCaribbean
(Source:Flickrphotobymrcharly)

Slide10:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
OneSociety,DifferentValues
Peopleinthesameculturalgroupcanhaveverydifferentopinionsandwaysofunderstandingthe
world.Peoplehavedifferenttastes,differentexpectations,differentoutlooksonthings.Withinthe
sameculturalgroup,peoplewillhavedifferentvalues,goalsandsystemsofmeanings.
Forexample:
Forthelongest
timeinQuebec,
religionwas
taughtinschool
andwas
mandatoryin
primaryschools.
Whenthe
government
optedtomake
thecourse
optionalandto
offeracoursein
ethicsandmorals
forthechildren
whodidnotwant
totakethe
religioncourse,
manypeople
wereoutraged,
whileothers
applauded.
Inthewakeof
thereasonable
accommodation
debatethattook

Tolearnmoreaboutthedebateoverreligiousculturecourses
inQuebecprimaryschools,checkoutthesesuggestedlinks.
TheEthicsand
ReligiousCulture
Course:As
Compulsoryas
SchoolAttendance?
(Source:ducaloi
website)

QuebecParentsTake
SchoolBoardto
CourtOver
Compulsory
RelativisticEthics
andReligionCourse
(Source:Thaddeus
M.Baklinski,
LifeSiteNews.com)
Quebec'sParents
haveLostthe
FreedomtoChoose
ReligiousEducation
Childreninaclassroom

(Source:John

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

8/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

(Source:Microsoftclips)
overtheprovince
in20072008,the
Quebec
government
optedtoreplace
thecourseon
ethicsand
religionwithacourseoncomparativereligiousculture.

Carpay,GlobeCampus,
TheGlobeandMail
website)

Someparentsobjectedthatthecoursegivesthesameimportancetoallreligionsandtherefore
underminestheirowninthemindsofthechildren.
Somethingtothinkabout
Howcanyouexplainthatthiswouldhappeninthesameprovincewithonly6millionpeoplewho
sharethesamespace,gothroughthesameeducationsystem,havethesamegovernment,speak
thesamelanguages,andsoon?

Slide11:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
SocialCulturalDiversity
Class,gender,race,ethnicityandindigenouspeoples

Inallsocieties,basicdistinctionsexistbetween
individualsintermsofageandgender.
Often,whatpeoplecanorcannotdo,mayor
maynotdo,mayormaynotsay,islinkedto
theirmembershipsintosocialgroupsdefinedby
theirgenderandtheirage.
Left:AfricanAmericancoupleinacafe
(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)

Inmulticulturalsocieties,otherfactorssuchas
race,ethnicityandindigeneityhaveprovided
additionalwaysofclassifyingpeopleaccording
totheirskincolour,ethnicoriginandnative
status.
Weshallcovertheseissuesindetailinalater
lesson.
Right:Japanesebusinessmentakingatrain
(Source:FlickrphotobyThoLaPhoto)

Slide12:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
Subcultures

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

9/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Clearly,whenpeoplearepartofaculturalgroup
theyarenotpassiverecipientsofprepackaged
systemsofmeanings,behaviourandthought.
Asindividuals,theydeveloptheirownopinions
andideas.Individualsinacultureengagethe
dominantcultureaccordingtogender,class,
experience,age,etc.Andthisprocessisoften
whatleadsthemtohavedifferentvisionsofwhat
theircultureis.
Right:Femalebreakdancers
(Source:FlickrphotobyDelmoBaggins)

Somefullyapproveofthedominantmodeland
embraceitwhileothersrejectit.Itisthe
engagementwithculturethatleadstosocio
culturalchange.
Whengroupsofpeoplerecognizethemselvesas
havingdifferentwaysofengagingthecultural
worldinwhichtheylive,wetalkofsubcultures.
Left:Montrealstreetkidscopingwitheverydayrealities
(Source:Flickrphotobycaribb)

Slide13:
Part1:TheConceptofCulture(cont'd)
YouthCulture
Insomesocieties,youngpeoplehavemodesofexpressions,behaviourandvaluesthatmaybe
significantlydifferentfromthoseoftheiradultcounterparts:theydressdifferentlyfromtheir
parents,theylistentodifferentkindsofmusic,theyusedifferentwords,andsoon.This
observationhasledanthropologistssuchasVeredAmittotalkaboutyouthculture.Yethowever
differentsomeyouthwishtobe,theyalsoengagewiththerestofsociety.
Thisistrueofmanyofthesubculturesthatcomprisesocieties:subculturesorganizedaroundage,
aroundleisureactivities,aroundreligions,aroundeconomicmeans,andsoon.

ListentoDr.VeredAmitfromConcordia
Universityexplainwhatshemeansby
youthcultureandhowyouthculture
intersectswiththerestofthesociety,
legally,sociallyandculturally.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length06:28)

ASubcultureExample:HipHopMusic
Funk,disco,soul,dub,
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

10/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Stylistic
origins

Cultural
origins

toasting,performance
poetry,spokenword,
signifying,thedozens,
scatsinging,talking
blues
1970s,theBronx,New
YorkCity

Turntable,synthesizer,
Typical
vocals,drummachine,
instruments
sampler,guitar,piano
Mainstream Highworldwidesince
popularity
thelate1980s
(Tablesource:Wikipedia,approvedbyDr.C.
Jourdan)

Youthsbreakdancingtothesoundofhiphopmusic
(Source:FlickrphotobyJanoDeCesare)

Slide14:
Part2:CultureChange
Listentoyourprofessorexplain
culturechange.
(VideoLength03:35)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

11/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Above:Acaseofcastmetaltypepiecesandtypeset
matterinacomposingstick(Source:Wikipedia)
Below:TheTeslaRoadster,anelectricsportscarwhose
chassiswasdevelopedfromtheLotusElise(Source:
Wikipedia)

Slide15:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
WhatisChanging?

FordModelT,1927,regardedasthefirstaffordable
Americanautomobile
(Source:rmhermen,Wikipedia)

Womanreceivingrubellavaccination,SchoolofPublic
HealthoftheStateofMinasGerais(ESPMG),Brazil
(Source:SandraRugio,Wikipedia)

Slide16:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
CoreCulturalElementsandCulturalChange
Changeinthe
mid1940s:
anthropologists
studying
cultural
change,
particularly
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

12/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

fromthepoint
ofviewof
acculturation
studies,posited
thatnotall
areasofculture
changedatthe
samepace.
American
scholarssuch
asHerskovitz
orLinton,for
example,
proposedthat
therewere
coreelements
inallcultures
thatweremore
resistantto
changethan
others.

Indianyouth,leftusingtraditionaltransportation,rightgoingtoamodern
school(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)

ReadwhatProfessorPierre
Beaucagehastosayabout
culturalchange(precededby
yourprofessor'squestionto
him).
Transcription

Slide17:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
ChangesNotLinkedtoTechnology

Britishsuffragettewithaposter,

AnAfghanwomangettinghervoteridentificationcardata
voterregistrationcentreinKabul,Afghanistan,July18,2004

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

NelsonMandelain
Pennsylvania,UnitedStates,

13/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

givingoutnewspapers19001919
(Source:ChusseauFlaviens,Flickr)

(Source:EncyclopdiaBritannicaOnline,RetrievedSept.16,
2009)

July1993.(Source:White
HousePhotographOffice)

Slide18:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
CaseStudy:DancinginaPolynesianSettlement
OnEasterSunday2007,yourprofessorwas
invitedtospendthedayattheLordHowe
settlementinHoniaraand
witness/participateinthecelebrations.There
wastobemusic,foodandacompetitionof
dances.Yourprofessortookhermovie
cameraalong.
Onthatday,adancecompetitiontookplace:
groupsofwomenandyoungboysbelonging
todifferentassociationspresentedtheir
dances.Itwasalongdrawnoutaffair
lastingmanyhours.
Asyouwatchsomesegmentsofthevideo
thatyourprofessorshotthatday,pay
attentiontothedancesofthewomen,their
attire,themusictheydanceto,theuseof
perfumeandtheflowerdecorationsthey
wear.Contrastthatwiththedancesofthe
youngboysandtheirattire.

Clickonmaptoenlarge.
SolomonIslands,includingOntongJava[Map].
InEncyclopediaBritannica.Retrievedfrom
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/61661

Dancingina
Polynesian
Settlement
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length03:02)

TheLordHowesettlementislocatedatthemouthoftheMatanikoRiver,bytheseaside.It
isinhabitedexclusivelybypeoplefromtheLordHoweIslands,aPolynesianoutlierlocated
northoftheSolomonIslands,alsoknownasOtongJava.Inthesettlement,peoplehave
runningwaterbutnosewagefacilities,andhousingrunsfrommakeshiftshelterstoconcrete
houses.

Slide19:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
IssuesofIdentityAmidstChange
When
external
cultural
markersare
changed
drastically,is
thecultural
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

14/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

grouporindividualidentityanylessauthentic?
Opposingconceptssuchas"traditional"and"modern"tendtooversimplifythe
complexitiesofculturalchange.

AnightdancebywomeninHapaee,1784
(Source:NationalLibraryofAustralia'sPicturesCollection)

BreakdanceratColumbusCircle
(Source:kptyson,Flickr)

Slide20:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
FourModelsofCulturalInteraction
Themostimportantformsofchangeareoftenassociatedwithcontactwithoutside
groups.
Anthropologistshaveidentifiedfourmodelsofculturalinteraction:clashofcivilizations
McDonaldizationHybridizationandLocalization.Youcanreadthedescriptionofeachin
thetextbook.
Amongstthevariousformsthatcontacthastaken,colonialism(partoftheclashof
civilizationsmodel),hasbroughtaboutthebiggestchanges.

FourModelsofCulturalInteraction
1

Clashofcivilizations

Conflictmodel

McDonaldization

Takeoverandhomogenizationmodel

Hybridization

Blendingmodel

Localization

Localculturalremakingandtransformationofglobalculture

(Source:MillerandVanEsterik,2007:19)

Slide21:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
Colonization
ThewordcolonizationusuallyreferstoEuropeanexpansionintothenonWesternworld(fromthe
17thto20thcenturies),buthasexistedthroughouthistoryinvariousforms.
European
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

15/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

colonizationhasproducedthemostdramaticsocialchangesinrecenthumanhistory.
Mostempireshadanagriculturalmodeofsubsistence.
Checkoutthesemaps
EgyptianEmpire

Alexander'sEmpire

MongolEmpire

AztecEmpire

(clickonmapstoenlarge)
Alloftheempiresaboveexistedthroughcolonizationandsubjugationofneighboursoroffaraway
landsforthebenefitofthestatethatlaunchedtheexpansion.ExceptfortheMongols,whowere
pastoralistnomads,alloftheseempireswereestablishedbypopulationswhosemainmodeof
subsistencewasastrongagriculture.

MapofEgyptianEmpire(Source:FlickrphotobyNormanB.LeventhalMapCenterattheBPL)
MapsofAlexandertheGreat'sEmpire,MongolEmpireandAztecEmpire(Source:EncyclopdiaBritannica)

Slide22:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
EuropeanColonization
Listentoyourprofessordiscuss
Europeancolonization.
(VideoLength02:51)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

LetslistentoDr.
DeborahGewertz
andDr.Frederic
Erringtonexplain
someofthe
impactsthat
colonizationand
subsequent
urbanizationhad
onthepeopleof
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

16/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

Chambri,Papua
NewGuinea.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length07:16)

PapuaNewGuineaisacountryintheWestern
Pacificthatcomprisestheeasternpartofthelarge
IslandofNewGuinea,theBismarkArchipelago,and
theIslandofBougainville.Partofitwascolonized
bytheGermansattheendofthe19thcentury,and
subsequentlybytheAustraliansundera
protectorate.Itbecameindependentin1975.

Slide23:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
ColonizationandPeoplesLives
Listentoyourprofessordiscuss
colonizationandpeopleslives.
(VideoLength03:38)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:TwoportraitsofMoruka,lefttakenin1985,rightin
1995(Source:C.Jourdan)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

17/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)
Below:MorukashouseinEastKwaio,IslandofMalaita,
SolomonIslands(Source:C.Jourdan)

Slide24:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
PostColonialPolitics
Colonizationhasnotonly
affectedindividualgroups
locatedwithinformer
states,butithasalso
creatednewcountriesby
amalgamatingdifferent
ethnicgroupsandcultural
groupsintoone
geopoliticalentity.

Clickonmaptoenlarge.

Think,forinstance,ofthe
countriesofWestAfrica,
suchasIvoryCoast,
Nigeria,theCongo,
Rwanda,Ethiopia,theSudan,etc.,whichwere
createdbytheBriitish,theBelgiansandtheFrench,
andarenow,afterindependence,fraughtwithethnic
tensions.Again,thepoliticalcrisesthatareshaking
theMelanesiancountriesofPapuaNewGuinea,the
SolomonIslands,VanuatuandFiji,arecasesinpoint.
Left:MapofAfrica(Source:CourtesyoftheUniversityofTexas
Libraries,Austin)
Right:Slaveauctionposter(Source:Wikimedia)

Ageneralcharacteristicofpostcolonial
statesisthattheyarepoliticallyand
economicallyweak.Let'slistentoDr.
RobertFoster,UniversityofRochesterin
theUnitedStates,explainwhythese
weaknessesoccur.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length01:13)

Slide25:
Part2:CultureChange(cont'd)
ColonialismandModernity
Forquitesometimeaftertheybecameindependent,postcolonialstatesthroughouttheworld
havealsobeeneconomicallyweak,andveryoftenremaineddependentontheeconomiesofthe
formercolonialpowers.Evenafterindependence,manyformercolonieshadretainedaformof
economythatsuppliedrawcommoditiestotheformercolonialpowers(coffee,sugar,cocoa,
minerals,etc.)andservedasamarketforthesaleofmanufacturedgoods.
ThisobservationledeconomistssuchasAndrGunderFranktoproposethatunderdevelopment
wasmaintainedbytheformercolonialpowers,andwasinfactnecessaryfortheirowneconomic
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

18/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

development.Thisthesisisquestioned,
particularlyinlightoftheeconomicsuccess
storiesofBrazilandSouthKorea,aswell
asothercountries.Yourprofessorasks
PierreBeaucagetoclarifythispoint.

Brazilcoastline(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)

ReadwhatProfessorPierre
Beaucagehastosayabout
colonialismandmodernity
(precededbyyourprofessor'squestion
tohim)Transcription

.
Brazilcoastline(Source:MicrosoftClipArt)

Slide26:
Part3:Globalization
ProfessorBeaucagesview(fromthepreviousslide)isverypoliticalandnotallpeoplewillagree
withit.Yet,asanthropologistshaveobserved,dramatictypesofchangetakeplacewhen,inthe
contextofeconomicglobalization,powerfulinternationalcorporations,withthehelpofadvertising
campaigns,aimatchangingpeopleslifestylesandconsumptionpatternssoastomarkettheir
ware.

Butglobalization
involvesmore
thanthesimple
economic
dimensionof
socialrelations.
LetslistentoDr.
Jonathan
Friedmanfrom
LundUniversityin
SwedenandDr.
RobertFoster
fromthe
Universityof
Rochesterinthe
UnitedStates,
whoexplainwhat
theymeanby
globalization.

Watchthevideo

Watchthevideo

(Length01:23)

(Length01:07)

Dr.JonathanFriedman

Dr.RobertFoster

(Fromourarchives)

Slide27:
Part3:Globalization(cont'd)
GlobalizationandSocialChange
Listentoyourprofessorexplain
globalizationandsocialchange.
(VideoLength02:50)
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

19/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 3: Culture, Cultural Change and Globalization (Print Version)

ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:Watchingtelevisionforthefirsttimein1997,these
childreninKomuvaoluaretransfixedbytheimages.The
childrenliveinaveryisolatedareaoftheislandof
Guadalcanal(SolomonIslands)wherethereisno
electricityorrunningwater,nobooks,nomodern
technologyofanykind.
(Source:C.Jourdan)

Slide28:
FinalThoughts
FoodforThoughtonthisLesson
"Technologicalprogressisaconqueringdespot
thatdoesnotstop.Anyslowingdownisseenasa
retreat,andthushumanityiscondemnedto
progressforlife."
AlfredSauvy,fromThoriegnraledela
population,19521954
Right:AlfredSauvy(Source:INED)

ToSumUp
Cultureisbestunderstoodasawayoflifeandawayofthinkingabouttheworldthatis
changingwiththepassageoftimeandthroughcontactwithotherculturalgroups.
Culturesaretheproductoftheinteractionbetweenindividualsandsocialgroups.Inthe
process,theykeepchanging:throughinventionbyindividualsthroughcontactwith
otherculturalgroupsandthroughsocialtransformationsthatculturalgroupsgo
throughduringtheirhistory.
Somechangesareincremental,whileothersaresodramaticthatitispossibletothink
ofthemintermsofarevolution.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=3&courseName=introduction_culture

20/20

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

Print

Lesson4:LanguageandCommunicationStudyMaterials
Slide1:
LessonTopics
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage
LessonHighlights
WhatisLanguage?
InterviewswithAnthropologists:
LanguageasaTool
forCommunication

Dr.RegnaDarnelldiscusseshow
languageplaysaroleinsocial

HowdidLanguage

relationships

Begin?

Dr.RegnaDarnellexplainswhatisso

TheOriginof

specialaboutlanguage

Language

Dr.BambiSchieffelinandDr.Elinor
Ochsexplainhowcultureshapesthe

TheDevelopmentof
Communications

waysocializationtakesplace
Dr.KevinTuiteexplainshowthe

Part2:WhatisLanguage?

methodoflexicostatisticsfunctions

WhatdoWeKnow
WhenWeKnowa
Language?
WhatdoWeKnow

Dr.RegnaDarnelldiscussestheSapir
Whorfhypothesis
SpecialFeature:

aboutLanguage?

Dr.ChristineJourdanexplainsthe
studyoflanguage(PowerPointand

TheMain
Characteristicsof

Audio)

HumanLanguage
Part3:LanguageandCulture
WhydoLanguages

indicatesavideoclip
indicatesanaudiorecording

Change?
LanguageFamilies
LanguageFamilies:AustronesianLanguages
WhydoWeNeedtoKnowHowLanguagesareRelated?
OriginsofPacificIslanders
HowLanguageChanges
TheGenesisofMelanesianPidgin
LanguageandIdentity
TheSapirWhorfHypothesis
LanguageasaMirror
FinalThoughts

Slide2:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage
WhatisLanguage?
Languageisacodeforcommunicationconsistingofasetofsymbolsandasetofrulesfor
constructingmessages=>thesesymbolsarearbitraryandconventional,usedbypeoplesin
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

1/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

societiesandpassedfromgenerationtogeneration,
andtheycanbeoral,writtenorsigned(likesign
language).

Maroccanwomenchattingbytheroad.
Marrakesh,2006(PhotobyC.Jourdan)

ClickonPlay

tolistentotheMP3.

Itisthroughthestudyofspeechthatwecan
knowlanguageandtheroleitplaysinsocial
relationships.LetslistentoDr.RegnaDarnell
telluswhatthisrelationshipis.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length02:21)

Slide3:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage(cont'd)
LanguageasaToolforCommunication
Asatoolfor
communication,languageis
centraltoculture.Thinkof
everydayactivitiesthat
needlanguagetobe
accomplished.
Theimportanceoflanguage
inanthropologywas
broughtaboutbytheworks
ofFranzBoasandledtothe
creationoflinguisticsasa
subfield(focusingonthe
relationshipoflanguage
andculture.)
Linguisticanthropologists
lookatsocialinteractions
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

2/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

andmeaningsthroughthe
studyofdiscourseand
speech.
Speechislanguagein
action(differentfrom
language),andbystudying
speech,wecanknow
languageandtheroleit
playsinsocialrelationships.
Above:AnthropologistKevinTuite(left),fromUniversitdeMontral,inconversationwithparticipantsin
hisresearchprojectinGeorgia,2005(CourtesyofKevinTuite)

Slide4:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage(cont'd)
HowdidLanguageBegin?
Listentoyourprofessorexplainhow
languagebegan.
(VideoLength03:27)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Languagebeganas:
(1)

Theresultofdivineorsupernaturalintervention
(Godgavepeoplelanguage,i.e.AdamandEve).

Languageispartoftheontologyoftheworld=>
languageexistsbecausehumansexist.
(2) (particularconception/theoryoftherelationship
oflanguagetothingsinparticularandtothe
worldingeneral).
Languageisaninherentpartofthehuman
speciesandispartofitsevolution(language
(3)
developedinrelationtohumanevolution).Thisis
theacceptedbelief.
Suggestedreading:TrackingtheEvolutionof
LanguageandSpeech:ComparingVocalTractsto
IdentifySpeechCapabilities
ByPhilpLiebermanandRobertMcCarthy

Slide5:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage(cont'd)
HowdidLanguageBegin?(cont'd)
(1)

(2)

Theresultofdivineorsupernaturalintervention.
BiblicalstoryoftheTowerofBabel.

Languageispartoftheontologyoftheworld.
Therelationshipoflanguagetoparticular
things.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

3/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

TheTowerofBabelbyPieterBruegheltheElder(1563)
(Source:KunsthistorischesMuseum,Austria)

MaeeadiandAnthropolgistRogerKeesinginHoniara,
SolomonIslands,1991(Source:C.Jourdan)

(3)
Languageisaninherentpartofthehumanspeciesandispartofitsevolution.
Thedevelopmentoflanguageinrelationtohumanevolution.
Allanthropologistsbelievethatthisthirdpointiscorrectasitputsthedevelopmentoflanguagein
relationtohumanevolution.Letsseehowinthenextslide.

Humanlineage(Source:EncyclopediaBritannica,http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/275670/humanevolution)

Slide6:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage(cont'd)
TheOriginofLanguage
Physical
anthropologists
and
paleontologists
lookingat
evolutioncan
helpin
uncoveringthe
originof
language.The
keyto
understanding
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

4/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

howlanguage
appearedisto
examineits
functions:
communication
between
people,store
knowledge,
think,and
express
emotions.

Iflanguageislinkedto
evolution,then:
1.Whatpointinthe
historyofhuman
evolutionwere
physical(human
physicaltraitslike
cognitiveabilitiesand
larynx)andsocial
(communication
throughlanguage
advantageous)
conditionsfavourable
forthedevelopment
oflanguage?
2.Howimportantisthe
developmentof
languageforhuman
evolution?Language
wassuchanadaptive
advantagethatitput
humansaheadon
theevolutiontrack,
moredistantthan
otherhumanoidslike
Neanderthalians.

(Clickonimagetoenlarge)

Paleontologicalrecordsshowthatthecombinationappeared1.6millionyearsagoatthe
timeoftheHomoErectus.However,languagetookalongtimetodevelop,andis
believedtohaveonlyappearedinthelast100,000years.Itisassociatedwiththe
physicalandneurologicalcharacteristicsofthemodernHomoSapiens.
ReviewthetimelineofhumanevolutionfromLesson2.
Image:Functionalitiesofhumanbrain(Source:EncyclopediaBritannica,
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/77269/brain)

Slide7:
Part1:TheOriginofLanguage(cont'd)
TheDevelopmentofCommunications
Thecommucationsdiagrambelowexplainstherelationshipbetweenthedevelopmentoflanguage,needs
forprecisecommunication,developmentofthebrain,andsocialization(Source:S.Nanda)
LanguagedidnotjustappearwithHomoSapiens,althoughthehowandwhywillneverbe
knownforcertain.Norisitknownwhyvocalbasedsymbolswerechosenovervisualones.
Languagewasmostlikelythelaststepinhumanbiologicalevolution,separatingusfromanimals
=>Scupinremarkedthathumanhistorybeganwithculturalevolution(Scupin,2000:96).
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

5/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

Howeversimplisticthisdiagramis,ithasthemeritofproposingatheoryofcommunication
thatseekstointegratepurelyphysicalconsiderationswithcognitiveandsocialones.It
explainsthatlanguagedidnotappearonceHomoSapiensappearedandphysicalevolution
wasover.Wewillneverknowhowlanguagebeganforsure,andwewillneverknowthe
timeatwhichitbecamemorebeneficialtocommunicatethroughavoicebasedsystemof
symbolsratherthanthroughavisualsystemofsymbolsandsigns.
Butonethingiscertain:thecapacityforlanguage,whichdistinguisheshumansfromall
otheranimals,wasprobablythelaststepinourbiologicalevolution,andasScupin
remarks,sincethattimehumanhistoryhasbeenmarkedbyculturalratherthanbiological
evolution(Scupin,2000:96).Inanycase,explorationsfromseveraldirectionshavegreatly
reducedthedimensionsofourignorance.
Diagramsource:Nanda,S.andWarms,R.(2002).CulturalAnthropology(7thed.).Belmont,Ca:Wadsworth
Publishing.
Images:Smallcanineteeth(Source:Wikipedia),Throwingweapons(Source:Wikipedia),Walkingupright(Source:
Wikipedia),Makingtools(Source:EncyclopediaBritannica),Huntingforfood(Source:Wikipedia),Biggermore
complexbrain(Source:Wikipedia),Increasingcomplexityofcommunications(Source:C.Jourdan),Hadzabetribe,
Africa(Source:Flickr,hadzabe)

Slide8:
Part2:WhatisLanguage?
Let'sleavethetopicoftheoriginoflanguageandmoveontothestudyoflanguageitself.The
easiestwaytostartthisstudyistoaskourselvesthefollowingquestion:

WhatdoWeKnowWhenweKnowaLanguage?
1.Weknowthesoundsthatbelongtoourlanguageandthosethatdonot.
2.Wealsoknowtheplaceofsomecombinationsofsounds.
3.Finally,weknowhowtocombinesoundsintherightorderinordertoproduce
meaning.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

6/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

ListentoDr.Christine
Jourdanexplainthe
studyoflanguage.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length02:22)

Imageright:CuneiformscripttabletfromtheKirkorMinassiancollectionintheLibraryofCongress.FromYear6in
thereignfromAmarSuena/AmarSinbetween2041and2040BC.(Source:LibraryofCongress,Wikipedia)
(Clickonimagetoenlarge)

Slide9:
Part2:WhatisLanguage?(cont'd)
WhatDoWeKnowaboutLanguage?
Buildingblocksof
language:
Phonology:
soundsystems
Morphology:
howwordsare
puttogether
Lexicon:thevocabulary
Syntax:thegrammar
Wearesocializedtouselanguage
efficientlybyrespectingsocial
conventionsthemostimportant
aspectforlinguisticanthropology.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

7/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

LetslistentoDr.Regna
Darnellexplainwhatisso
specialaboutlanguage.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length01:07)

Slide10:
Part2:WhatisLanguage?(cont'd)
TheMainCharacteristicsofHumanLanguage
Humanlanguagedisplaysfourmain
characteristics:arbitrariness,
conventionality,productivityand
displacement(thefirsttwowe
sharewithnonhumanprimates).

Listentoyourprofessorexplainthefour
maincharacteristicsofhumanlanguage.
(VideoLength07:26)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.
Arbitrarinessmeans
thattherelationshipbetweensoundandmeaningisirrelevant(alllanguageswoulduse
thesamewordsotherwise)=>wordsaresymbols:theirmeaningsaredefinedby
culture,notlabel.
Conventionalityandarbitrarinesscombinedallowustocreatenewwords,assignthem
meaning,changemeaningasneeded,andsoon.
Productivityallowsustocommunicatedifferentmessagesbycombiningvarious
elementsoflanguage.Thuswecanmodifyandrefinethemeaningsofsentencestofit
thecontext(situation)inwhichtheyarespoken(tone,volumeusedtoindicateurgency,
etc.)
Displacementallowsus,throughlanguage,totalkaboutthepastorfuturepermitting
ustoenteraworldofabstractionsincewecannotseethepastorfuture.

Humanlanguageisthusacommunicationsystemthatisopenwhilethoseofanimalsareclosed.

Slide11:
Part3:LanguageandCulture

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

8/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

LanguageSocialization
Languageistherepository(bank)ofmeaningandisatool
usedtocommunicatemeaning.Howitisusedandwhatthe
usesignalsabouthumanrelationshipsiswhatisimportantto
anthropologists.
AmericanlinguistNoamChomskyhasshownthathumansare
predisposedforlanguagelearning.Forexample,childrencan
understandandproducecomplexsentenceswithouthaving
beenexposedtothedatanecessaryfortheproductionofsuch
sentences.
Thekeytolanguageacquisitionisinsocialization(thesocial
processassociatedwithlearninghowtobecomeamemberof
onesownsociety),justlikeculture.
BambiSchieffelinandElinorOchsshowintheirresearchthat
languagesocializationinvolvestwodifferentactivities:
socializationtouselanguage(languageacquisitionbychildren
inthecontextoffamilylife)andsocializationthroughlanguage
(socializationofchildrenintoculturethroughlanguage).

LetslistentoDr.BambiSchieffelinandDr.Elinor
Ochsexplainhowcultureshapestheway
socializationtakesplace.

Imageabove:AgroupofyoungchildrenisunderthewatchofMaria,11yearsold,whilethemothersareinthe
garden.Sheislearninghowtolookafterthem.Komuvaolu,SolomonIslands,1997.(PhotoC.Jourdan)

Slide12:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
WhydoLanguagesChange?
SchieffelinandOchs(fromthe
(VideoLength03:29)
previousslide)makeitclearthat
ClickonPlay toviewthevideo.
languagesocializationisthekeyto
culturalsocialization,andthatlanguageiscentraltocultureandisfedbyculture.Inanthropology,
thedebateiswhetherlanguageisthemotorofcultureoramirrorofit.
Languageschange(likeculture):
1.Passageoftime:eachgenerationinfluenceslanguageinthewaystheyuseit.
Expressionschange,alongwithgrammar.
2.Culturalcontactandborrowingfromotherlanguages(sometimesthisisforgotten
throughhistory).
3.Migrationandsubsequentisolationanddevelopmentoflocalculture(QuebecFrench
Vs.FranceFrench).
4.Identitycreation.
VisittheKryssTalwebsiteandreviewmanyofthe
Englishwordsthathavecomefromcontactwithother
languages:http://www.krysstal.com/borrow.html.
Theselistsarenotcomplete,buttheywillprovideyou
withagoodindicationoftheprocessofborrowing.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

9/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

Slide13:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
LanguageFamilies
Dramatic
changes
canleada
language
tobe

Let'slistentoDr.Kevin
Tuitefromthe
UniversitedeMontreal
explaintoushowthe
methodof
lexicostatistics
functions.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo
(Length03:41)

unrecognizabletoitsrelativesovertime.Historicallinguistshelpustounderstandhowlanguages
arerelatedthoughlexicostatistics:comparingpatternsofsoundchangesbetweenlanguages.They
comparewordslikelytobefoundineachlanguagebecausetheyencodeelementsofeverydaylife
sharedbyallsocieties.
Theinitiallistof100words(bodyparts,intimatefamilymembers,basiccolours,basic
physicalenvironmentelements)calledthe"CoreVocabulary"wascompiledbylinguist
MorrisSwadesh.
Lexicostatisticshasbeencriticized,buthasallowedhistoricallinguiststogroup
languagesintolargefamilies.

Checkout
Ethnologue:LanguagesoftheWorld,whereyoucanaccessmapsofthedifferent
languagefamiliesfromaroundtheworldathttp://www.ethnologue.com/.
Listofcorevocabularyusedforlexicostatisticscomparison(Source:Language,Culture,
andSociety:AnIntroductiontoLinguisticAnthropology,byZdenekSalzmann,Westview
Press4thed.(July312006).

Slide14:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
LanguageFamilies:AustronesianLanguages
AustronesianLanguageTreeandFullTreeFigureofAustronesianLanguages(Clickonimagestoenlarge)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

10/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

Copyright:TheAustronesianBasicVocabularyDatabase:SimonGreenhill,RobertBlust&RussellGray

CommonWordsinSixAustronesianLanguages

Slide15:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
WhyDoWeNeedtoKnowHowLanguagesareRelated?
Knowinghowlanguagesarerelatedtoeachotherisimportanttoarchaeologistsoranthropologists
whoneedtounderstandthegeographicaloriginsofagivengroupofpeople.
Forinstance,fora
verylongtimethe
originofPacific
Islanderswasan
objectof
conjectureand
debate.Anagging
questionwas:
Giventhecultural
traitsthatare
foundonboth
sidesofthePacific
Ocean,(pan
pipes,tapas,
stoneorearth
ovens,sweet
potatoes)itwas
notclearwhether
PacificIslanders
hadmigratedinto
thePacificfrom
theAmericasor
fromAsia.
Solinguists
startedtodoa
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

11/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

comparativestudy
ofthelanguages
ofthePacificusing
thelexicostatistics
method.Andwhat
resultsdidthey
get?Well,that
thatthese
languagescould
begroupedinto
twofamilies:the
Papuanlanguages
andthe
Austronesian
languages.

Thesubsequentcomparisonofthe
AustronesianlanguagesofthePacific
withlanguagesofSoutheastAsiaand
SouthAmericawasdonetotestthe
hypothesisoftheoriginofPacific
Islanders.Theideawasthatif
scholarscouldfindresemblances
betweenthelanguagesofthePacific
withlanguagesfoundoneitherside
ofthePacificOcean,thenwecould
determinethegeographicaloriginsof
PacificIslanders.
Aboveleft:Panpipe,madeofbamboo,
Kwaio,SolomonIslands,1962(PhotoC.
Jourdan).Aboveright:Stoneoveninanout
kitcheninHoniara,SolomonIslands,2007
(PhotoC.Jourdan).Right:Moderntapacloth
fromTahiti(FrenchPolynesia),1968(Photo
C.Jourdan)

Slide16:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
OriginsofPacificIslanders
Knowing
how

languagesarerelatedisimportanttoanthropologistsandarchaeologistswhenattemptingto
understandthegeographicaloriginsofagivengroup=>examiningwhethertwogroupswith
similarculturaltraitsmayhaveoriginatedfromthesamepeoples.
Forexample:PacificIslandersmayormaynothavemigratedfromtheAmericasorAsia.Using
lexicostatistics,thelanguagescouldbegroupedintotwofamilies:PapuanandAustronesian
languages.AustronesianlanguagesofthePacificwerethencomparedtothoseofSoutheastAsia
andSouthAmericainordertodiscovertheexistenceofsimilaritiesornot.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

12/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

ASamoanfamily,SouthPacific(Source:Wikipedia)

TwoAsianwomenwhispering(Source:MicosoftClipArt)

Slide17:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
HowLanguageChanges
Languagechangesreflecta
healthyculturewherenew
generationsspoutnewideas
andwaysofbeingappear
andpushlanguagein
differentdirections.

Listentoyourprofessorexplainhow
languageschange.
(VideoLength03:37)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Languageshavedisappeared
whentheirspeakersandcultureshavecomeunderattackthroughouthistory(i.e.
colonizationoftheworldbyEuropehasleftitsmarkTasmania,anislandoffAustralia,
haditslastaboriginalspeakersdecimatedbyBritishsettlers).
GlobalizationofpopularculturethroughEnglishishavingasimilareffectelsewhere.TV
programs,songsandprintmediagivemoreprominencetoonelanguage.Englishhas
becomealinguafranca(alanguageofuniversalcommunicationusedtoovercome
linguisticgapsthatexistinmultilingualencounters).
Socioeconomicvalueisbeingassociatedwiththedominantlanguageandpeoplegivein
tothisandmoveawayfromtheirownlanguage.Itiswhenwholecommunitiesshiftthat
ancestrallanguagesbecomeobsoleteanddisappear.
Nationaleducationsystemsthatteachinone"national"languageareresponsiblefor
manydisappearances,forthegovernmentisgivingsociallegitimacytoonelanguage
andforcingspeakersofotherlanguagestolearnit.
Languagedeathiswhenalanguagedisappears,whichentailsaprocessof
endangermentstages.

Slide18:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
HowLanguageChanges(cont'd)
Thereare6000languagespresenttodayand,whilediversityishigh,theforcesofcolonization,
globalizationandeducationthreatenthem.LinguistRichardKraussestimatesthatin100years
90%oftheselanguageswillbegoneorspokenonlybytheoldergenerations.
However,newlanguagesmayappearwhensociolinguisticsituationsallowthemtodevelop,like
thepidginandcreolelanguagesofJamaicaorHaiti.Theyarecreatedbythecontactsbetween
diversepopulationsspeakingdifferentlanguagesandinsocialcircumstanceswherelearningthe
otherlanguagesisimpossible.TheyarealsolinkedtotheearlyslavetradeoftheAtlanticbetween
AfricaandtheAmericasandinlabourtradeinthePacificbetweenMelanesianIslandsandthe
AustraliannorthernstateQueensland.

MalayoPolynesianFamilyofLanguages
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

13/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

"BeforeEuropeancolonialexpansion,MalayoPolynesianhadthewidestterritorialextentofany
languagefamily.AprimarygeneticdivisioninthefamilyseparatestheAustronesianlanguagesof
Taiwanfromtheremaininglanguages,whicharedividedintoWesternandCentralEasternMalayo
Polynesian.WesternMalayoPolynesianincludesJavanese,whichisspokenbyabout76millionpeople
morethanathirdofallAustronesianspeakers."(Source:Austronesianlanguages,Encyclopedia
Britannica)
Austronesianmap(Source:EncyclopediaBritannicahttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/44563/Austronesian
languages)

Slide19:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
TheGenesisofMelanesianPidgin
Inthesecondpartofthe
19thcenturylabourers,
onsugarplantationswho
wererecruitedfromtheir
homeislandsin
Melanesiahadnoaccess
tolearnthelanguageof
theplantationoverseers,
northatoffellowdiverse
workers.

ListenagaintoasampleofSolomonsPijin,aversionofMelanesian
pidginasitisusedbyyourprofessor'sfriendJanetintheKastom
storysheisrecounting.

Thus,anewlanguage
developedthatretained
somegrammatical
featuresofthe
Melanesianlanguages
andborrowedEnglish
vocabulary.
Foralanguagewithan
unpromisingstartthatdidnotexist150yearsago,itisnowspokeninPapuaNewGuinea,
SolomonIslandsandVanuatuandservesasanationallanguage.

OtherNewLanguages
Newlanguagesalsoappearwithinparticularsocialgroups:Verlan,thelanguageofyoungpeople
inthehousingprojectsofthesuburbsofParis,isacaseinpoint.
WhatisVerlan?
VerlanisaformofFrenchslangthatplayswithsyllablesandsoundsandtypicallyreverses
theorderofsyllablesastheyarebeingheard(notwritten).Mostfamousexamplesare
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

14/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

wordssuchasVerlan(means:reverse)andripou(acorruptpoliceofficer).
Letsseehowtheyarebuilt:

l'envers...l'envers...versl'en...versl'en...verslen...verlen...verlan
pourri...pourri...rripou...rripou...ripou
YoucanreadmoreaboutVerlanandseeotherexamplesofverlanwordsat:
http://french.about.com/library/vocab/blverlan.htm?

Slide20:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
LanguageandIdentity
Socialjargonslike
Verlanornew
languagesarecreated
notonlyasameansof
communicationbutas
asymbolofidentityas
well.

Listentoyourprofessorexplainthe
associationbetweenlanguageand
identity.
(VideoLength02:14)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Verlanwasoriginallyusedtokeepinformationawayfromthoseinauthority,andit
spreadasalanguageofresistancetoauthorityandidentity(nowusedby
disenfranchisedyouths).
Thereisastrongassociationbetweenlanguageandidentityanditisfraughtwith
emotionalconsiderations.Doesyourability(orlackthereof)tospeakGreekaffectyour
identityasaGreekperson?
Theassociationbetweenlanguageandidentityhasledgovernmentstocreatelanguage
legislation.
Forexample:Bill101madeFrenchtheofficiallanguageofQuebecandmade
childrennotborntoEnglishspeakingparentsattendFrenchschools,thus
implyingthatFrenchisthelanguageofQuebecersandtoensurethecontinuation
ofFrenchasastrongculturallanguageontheNorthAmericancontinent.Some
believedthatQuebecculturecouldonlysurviveinFrench.

Slide21:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
TheSapirWhorfHypothesis

Thedebaterevolvesaroundtwoparticularapproaches:
1.Islanguagesuchapowerfultoolthatitcreatesgroovesof
expressionthatpredisposeustoseetheworldina
particularway?
2.Or,rather,islanguageamirrorofculture,reflecting
culturalbeliefsandpreoccupationsabouttheworld?

EdwardSapir,1913
(Source:Canadian
MuseumofCivilization)

BenjaminLeeWhorf
(Source:Manuscripts&
Archives,YaleUniversity)

LetslistentoDr.RegnaDarnelltellusaboutthe
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

15/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

SapirWhorfhypothesis.

Slide22:
Part3:LanguageandCulture(cont'd)
LanguageasaMirror

Anthropologistsagreethatthereisarelationshipbetweenlanguageandthought,butnotone
wherelanguagedeterminesthought.Rather,theyseeitasaninfluenceonthespeaker'sthinking
andworldview(weakreadingofthehypothesis).
Languagesalsodevelopvocabulariesthatreflectlocalculturalrealitiesandpreoccupations:
militaryvocabularyisprominentincountrieswherethearmyisimportantandthewhole
vocabularyofcookinginEnglishcanbeborrowedfromFrench=>saut,julienne,etc.

Asiancouple(Source:MicrosoftCipArt)

Ebusinessmeeting(Source:MicrosoftCipArt)

Slide23:
FinalThoughts

Thelanguagesoftheworldarefundamentallysimilardespitethesuperficialdifferences,
asChomskyhasshown.Theyareallproductsofthesamehumancapacityforlanguage
andallservethesamefunctioninhumansocieties.
Thedifferencesbetweenlanguagesareduetotheculturalimprintthateachculture
stampsontothem.Gender,class,agegroups,powerrelationships,fashionsand
ideologiesareinscribedonlanguagesandhowtheyareused.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

16/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 4: Language and Communication (Print Version)

Languagesareinstrumentstothinkwithandtolivewithandthusarerepositories
(storehouses)ofhumanculturalexperience.

Stopsignillustratesthepoliticsoflanguagein
Montreal
(PhotoEveJourdan)

StopsigninMarrakesh,Morocco
(PhotoC.Jourdan)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=4&courseName=introduction_culture

17/17

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Print

Lesson5:Religion:Ritual,MythandtheCosmosStudyMaterials
Slide1:
LessonTopics
Part1:WhyReligion?
Distributionof
MajorWorld
Religions(inthe
Worldandin
Canada)

LessonHighlights
InterviewswithAnthropologists:
Dr.LamontLindstromexplainswhat
cargocultsare

Part2:VarietiesofReligious

Dr.DeirdreMeintelspeaksabout
religion,modernity,globalizationand

Beliefs
DifferentDeitiesor
Agencies
Mana:Maythe
ForcebewithYou

thesearchforsymbolicmeaning
SpecialFeatures:
Checkoutpopulationbyreligionin
Canada,
byprovinceandterritory(2001Census)
fromStatisticsCanada

Godsand
Supernatural

Watchthevideo:

Beings

PilgrimagetoRocamadour

Myths,Doctrines
andRituals
RitualsasChannels

indicatesavideoclip

LifeCycleRituals

indicatesanaudiorecording

Ritualsas
Communitas
Pilgrimages
PilgrimagetotheGrandPardoninRocamadour,France
LiminalityandNormalLife
Magic
Part3:ReligioninDailyLife:SocialControl
SocialControlandReligiousPracticeintheSolomonIslands
Part4:ReligionandChange
RevitalizationMovements
CargoCults
GhostDance
Syncretism
NewReligions
FinalThoughts
ALifeinAnthropology

Slide2:
Part1:WhyReligion?
"Whyreligion?"isagoodquestion.Notconsideringthe
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

1/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

questionofthedivineorsupernaturaloriginofthereligions
(whichmostanthropologistswillclaimarehumancreations),
scholarshaveidentifiedsocialandpsychologicalreasonsfor
religions:
1.theyexplain
2.theyvalidate
3.theycomfort
4.theydefinethewaytheworldis
Takingtheaboveintoaccount,adefinitionofreligion
proposedin1966byCliffordGeertz,anAmerican
anthropologist,seemsfitting:

Fromlefttoright:1stRow:ChristianCross,JewishStarof
David,HinduAumkar2ndRow:IslamicStarandcrescent,
BuddhistWheelofDharma,ShintoTorii3rdRow:Sikh
Khanda,Bah'star,JainAhimsaSymbol(Source:Rursus,
Wikimedia)

Definitionofreligion:Areligionis1)asystemof
symbolswhichactstoestablishpowerful,pervasiveand
longlastingmoodsandmotivationsinmenby2)
formulatingconceptionsofageneralorderofexistence
and3)clothingtheseconceptionswithsuchanauraof
factualitythat4)themoodsandmotivationsseem
uniquelyrealistic.(Source:Geertz1966:Religionasa
CulturalSystem).

Religionthereforedefinesandexplainstheworldandestablishesappropriatereactionstowardsit,(feeling,
thinking,actinginit).Religionsarebeliefsystemsthatserveasmodelsforliving,andmodelsofliving.Other
definitionsofreligionstressthebeliefinspiritualbeingsyetothersstressthequalityofsacrednessthat
demarcatesthereligiousfromthesecular,thatis,everydaylife.

Slide3:
Part1:WhyReligion?(cont'd)
DistributionofMajorWorldReligions(inCanada)

Fordetaileddata,checkat:Religions,NHSProfile,Canada,2011,StatisticsCanada.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

2/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Slide4:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs
Listentoyourprofessorexplainthe
separationbetweenreligionand
everydaylife.
(VideoLength01:52minutes)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:PotalaPalace,formerresidenceoftheDalaiLama
inLhassa(Source:Flickr,reurinkjan)
Below:Catholicnuns(Source:WikimediaCommons)

Slide5:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
DifferentDeitiesorAgencies
Religions
alsovary
with
regardsto
thedeities
and
agencies
theyposit,
andwith
how
people
relateto
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

3/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

them.
Some
religious
systems,
suchas
animism,
believein
the
presence
of
indwelling
spirits
(ghosts,
tree
spirits,and
otherspirit
beings)
while
others,
suchas
animatism,
positthe
presence
ofdiffuse
spiritual
power
suchas
Manain
Melanesia,
orOrenda
inNorth
America.
Right:
Buddhist
monks
FarRight:
Synagogue
intheGerard
Doustraatin
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
(Sourcefor
both:
Wikimedia
Commons)

Slide6:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
Mana:MaytheForcebewithYou
Listentoyourprofessorexplainmana.
(VideoLength01:42)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

4/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Above:MapofMelanesia(Source:Wikimedia)
Below:MapofPolynesia(Source:EncyclopediaBritannica)
(Clickonmapstoenlarge)

Slide7:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
GodsandSupernaturalBeings
Listentoyourprofessordiscussgodsand
supernaturalbeings.
(VideoLength02:29)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

5/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Above:HelicopterviewofUluru,alsoknownasAyersRock
inthecentraldesertofAustralia,whichissacredtothe
PitjantjatjaraandYankunytjatjara(Source:Huntster,
Wikipedia)
Below:JupiterandThtisbyJeanAugusteDominique
Ingres,1811(Source:MuseumGranetofAixenProvence,
WikimediaCommons)

Slide8:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
Myths,DoctrinesandRituals
Religionsareexpressedthroughmyths,doctrinesandrituals.
Mythsaresacredtexts
(oralorwritten)that
seektoexplainthe
orderofthingsandthe
stateoftheworld.They
usuallyexplainhow
thingscametobethe
waytheyare:mythof
origin,mythof
creation.

Rituals
Theearlyanthropologicalstudiesofrituals,suchas
thosebyFrenchsociologistDurkheimandBritish
anthropologistRadcliffeBrownsawthemasreinforcing
collectivesentimentandsocialintegration.Thenitty
grittyoftheritualitself,thatis,theverystepsand
elementsoftherituals,werenotconsideredimportant.
Contemporaryanthropology,sincetheworksofVictor
Turnerinparticular,hasrecognizedthestructural
importanceofritualsandthesymbolismtheycarry.

Doctrinesestablishthe
rules(forhuman
behaviour,andfor
behaviourvisvisthesupernaturalbeingsandthespirits.Theyareformalstatements.
Ritualsareoftendescribedasbeliefsinaction.Wellperformedritualsarethewaysto
honourdeitiesorspirits,topropitiatethem,toappeasethem,andtocommunicatewith
them.

Right:French
sociologist
Davidmile
Durkheim
Centre:
British
anthropologist

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

6/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Alfred
Reginald
Radcliffe
Brown
Farright:
Cultural
anthropologist
VictorWitter
Turner
(Sourcefor
all:Wikipedia)

Slide9:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
RitualsasChannels
Ritualsarethechannelsthroughwhichonecommunicateswiththesupernaturalbeings,with
spiritsorwithancestors.Iftheritualsarenotperformedperfectly,thenthedesiredeffectmight
nottakeplace.Ritualsincludetheperformanceofreligiousceremonies,thesacrificeofanimals
duringtheseceremonies,theofferingoffoodtospiritsordeities,andvarioustypesofprayers,
incantationsandmusicthatfavourcommunicationwithdeitiesorspirits.Hencetheimportance
giveninallreligionstotheperformanceofrituals.
Someritualsaresecretfromtherestofsociety(suchastheoneLianiamaeisperforming,left),
othersarecommunalevents(suchasreligiousservices),andyetothersareindividual(individual
prayers).

PriestLianiamae,fromKwaio,SolomonIslands,istalking
toanancestorsskullhehasjustexhumedandexplainsto
ittheritualsheisabouttoperform
(PhotocourtesyofDavidAkin)

InfrontoftheeastwindowofherhouseinLata(Highland
Georgia),ValiaTserderianioffers3loavesoffreshlybaked
breadtothepatronsaintofoneofthesacredchurchesof
herclan,2006(PhotocourtesyofKevinTuite)

Slide10:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
LifeCycleRituals
Theseritualsareoftenalsocalledritesofpassageandtheyareoftenassociatedwithorgiven
saliencethroughreligion.Thinkofmarriageblessedbypriests,brissperformedbytheRabbior
funeralrituals.WeshallexploreritesofpassageingreaterdetailinthelessonontheLifeCycle.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

7/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Left:AccordingtoJewishLaw,Britmilah(circumcision
ritual)mustbeperformedoneveryJewishmale(Source:
Wikimedia)
Above:ChristianweddinginSt.Mary'sChurch,Kyoto,
Japan,May2007(Source:HideyukiKamon,Flickr,
Wikimedia)

Slide11:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
RitualsasCommunitas
AnthropologistVictorTurnerhasshownthatritualshelppeopleachieveasenseofunitywitheach
other.Thisiswhathehascalledcommunitas.Duringrituals,peoplesindividualitycanbe
subsumedtoanoverwhelmingfeelingofbelonging.Notethatcommunitastakesplaceaswellin
nonreligiousritualsorevents.

Left:TheroutethepilgrimstakeduringtheHajjpilgrimage
toMecca(Source:Flickr,photoCameraEye)Above:
PilgrimstoMeccacircumambulatingtheKaabaduringthe
Hajj(Source:Wikimedia)

Turnernotedthatduringthestateofcommunitas,the'normal'socialorder(includingsocial
hierarchy)isoftenforgottenandpeoplefeelasiftheybelongtoacommunityofequals.During
pilgrimages,peopletravelingtogethertoasacredsiteoftenshareafeelingofbelongingthat
erasessocialdifferencesbetweenpilgrims.

Slide12:
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

8/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
Pilgrimages
Listentoyourprofessorexplaintravel
ritualsknownaspilgrimages.
(VideoLength01:35)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:St.Joseph'sOratoryinMontreal,Quebec(Source:
WikimediaCommons)
Below:Ritual,bathingintheGangesatVaranasi.Varanasi
attractsthousandsofHindupiligrimseveryyear(Source:
Flickrphotobyjonrawlinson)

Slide13:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
PilgrimagetotheGrandPardoninRocamadour,France
PilgrimagescalledGrand
Pardons(Great
forgiveness)takeplace
onceeveryhundredyears
sincethe13thcenturyon
SaintJohndeBaptiste
day(June24),which
coincideswiththefeastofCorpusChristi.ThisaCatholicpilgrimagethathonourstheVirginMary.
(Fromourarchives)

PilgrimagetoRocamadour,FranceWatchthevideo

(Length22:42)

(VideoinFrenchwithsomeEnglishinterviews)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

9/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)
Farleft:The
small
medieval
villageof
Rocamadour
hasbeen
thesiteofa
pilgrimage
inhonourof
theVirgin
Marysince
the13th
century
(Photo:C.
Jourdan,
2007)

(Clickonimagetoenlarge)

(Clickonmaptoenlarge)

Left:Mapof
France
(Source:
Wikimedia)

Slide14:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
LiminalityandNormalLife
Oppositionsbetweenliminalityandnormalsociallife.

Liminality
Transition
Homogeneity
Communitas
Equality
Anonymity
Absenceofproperty
Absenceofstatus

NormalSocialStructure
State
Heterogeneity
Structure
Inequality
Names
Property
Status

Nakednessoruniformdress

Dressdistinctions

Sexualcontinenceorexcess

Sexuality

Minimizationofsexdistinctions

Maximizationofsexdistinctions

Absenceofrank

Rank

Humility

Pride

Disregardofpersonalappearance
Unselfishness
Totalobedience
Sacredness
Sacredinstruction

Careforpersonalappearance
Selfishness
Obedienceonlytosuperiorrank
Secularity
Technicalknowledge

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

10/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Silence
Simplicity
Acceptanceofpainandsuffering

Speech
Complexity
Avoidanceofpainandsuffering

(Reference:PhillipKottak.CulturalAnthropology(9thedition).NewYork:McGrawHill,2002)

Slide15:
Part2:VarietiesofReligiousBeliefs(cont'd)
Magic
Listentoyourprofessordiscussmagic
andreligion.
(VideoLength01:51)
ClickonPlay

Yup'ikshamanexorcisingevil
spiritsfromasickboy,
Nushagak,Alaska,1890s.
Nushagak,locatedon
NushagakBayoftheBering
SeainsouthwestAlaska,is
partoftheterritoryofthe
Yup'ik,speakersofthe
CentralAlaskanYup'ik
language.(Source:Libraryof
Congress,Wikipedia)

toviewthevideo.

AtraditionalNaxishaman
performsapurifyingritual.
Thismanwasveryoldand
thelastofhiskindtokeep
suchtraditionsalive.Heand
otherNaxipeopleescaped
theworstoftheCultural
Revolutionandmanyold
traditionssurvived.(Source:
FlickrphotobyDeederdoll)

Slide16:
Part3:ReligioninDailyLife:SocialControl
FoodforThought:EmileDurkheimhassaidthatreligion
servestoreinforcesocialcontrolbyenforcingmoralcodes
andsettingrulesforappropriatesocialbehaviour.
Canyouthinkofsomeexamplesinyourownlifeorthatof
someoneelse?
Therearereligionsinwhichdailylifeandreligiouslifeareintertwinedinsuchawaythatsocial
behaviourisoftenpresentedashavingadivineorigin.Thinkaboutwhatishappeningcurrentlyin
Afghanistan,wheretheShiiteleaders,totheuproaroftheWest,recentlypassedalawcontrolling
themovementofmarriedwomenoutsideofthehomeinthenameofIslam.
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

11/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Thinkabout
theCatholic
Church
condemning
theuseof
contraception
methodsor
ofthe
condomfor
itsfollowers.
Inallcases
known,
religionis
usedbythe
powersthat
betojustify
orreinforce
social
practices
thatseekto
controlthe
behaviourof
allorsome
membersof
thesociety.
Religions
provide
guidelinesfor
social
behaviour:
rules
necessaryfor
the
maintenance
ofsocial
orderare
more
powerfulif
theyare
attachedto
threatsor
rewardsfrom
a
supernatural
power.

Aboveright:WomenwearingBurqasinKabul,Afghanistan(Source:Flickrphotobydeepchi1)Left:PopeBenedict
XVIduringvisittoSoPaulo,Brazil,2007(Source:FabioPozzebom,Wikipedia)Right:Religionindailylife,prolife
demonstration,2009(Source:FlickrphotobyJohn_Stephen_Dwyer)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

12/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Slide17:
Part3:ReligioninDailyLife:SocialControl(cont'd)
SocialControlandReligiousPracticeintheSolomonIslands
Listentoyourprofessorexplainsocial
controlassociatedwithreligion.
(VideoLength02:53)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:AKwaiohamlet.Amenshouseoverlookstwo
familyhousesand,ontheleft,asmallhouseontheborder
ofthewomensareaforanincontinentwomanwholives
here.(Photo/captioncourtesyDavidAkin)
Below:Aviewdownfromthemenshouseoffamily
housesandmenstrualhutsbelow(Photo/captioncourtesy
DavidAkin)

Slide18:
Part4:ReligionandChange
Eventhoughreligionstendtosupportthesocialorder,theyarealsoagentsofchangeand
sometimesrevolution(thinkabouttheIslamicRevolutioninIran,forinstance).Duringthephase
ofEuropeancolonization,theCatholicChurchwasinstrumentalinbringingaboutmajorsocial
changes:convertingpeople,condemningsongsanddances,teachingliteracyandWestern
religiousmusic,emphasizingthenuclearfamilyasthepreferredmodelofresidence,destroying
shrinesandoldbeliefsystems.
While
fundamentalist
Christiansor
Muslimstodaystill
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

13/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

adheretostrict
standardsof
beliefs,rules,
customsandon
theliteralreading
oftextssacredto
theirfaith(the
Bible,theQur'an),
theyoftenseekto
convertothers.
Forexample,Tele
evangelistsinthe
U.S.and
fundamentalist
Christianpreachers
arecurrently
convertingmillions
ofpeopleto
fundamentalist
Christianityin
SouthAmerica,
Africaandthe
Pacific.
Left:Ayatollah
Khomeini,Iranian
religiousleaderand
politician
Right:BillyGraham,
anAmerican
evangelistandan
EvangelicalChristian
(Sourceforboth:
WikimediaCommons)

Case:Liberationtheology(withintheCatholicChurch),asfoundinLatinAmericafor
instance,isaschooloftheologythatclaimsthatthepoorhavebeenoppressedbythe
rich:itclaimsthatitisamoraldutytoseekredressonbehalfofthepoor,andtobring
aboutjusticethroughpoliticalaction.Liberationtheologiansactwithintheconfinesof
democracytobringabouttheendofpoverty.

Slide19:
Part4:ReligionandChange(cont'd)
RevitalizationMovements
Listentoyourprofessorexplain
revitalizationmovements.
(VideoLength02:16)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

14/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Above:Healing"elayingonofhands"ceremonyinthe
PentecostalChurchofGod(Photograph:RussellLeefor
FarmSecuritiesAdministration)
Below:Religioussnakehandling(Source:Wikimedia
Commons)

Slide20:
Part4:ReligionandChange(cont'd)
CargoCults
Listentoyourprofessordiscusscargo
cults.
(VideoLength01:51)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

ChiefMoro,
thecharismatic
leaderoftheMoro
movement,acargo
cult/revitalization
movement/nativistic
cultfoundinthe
SolomonIslands,
1997(Photo:C.
Jourdan)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

15/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Let'slistento
Dr.Lamont
Lindstromexplain
whatcargocultsare.
(Fromourarchives)

Watchthevideo

(Length04:16)

Dr.Lindstrom,fromtheUniversityofTucsonin
Arizona,hasstudiedonesuchmovement(the
JohnFrummovement)inVanuatu,anisland
countryintheSouthWestPacific,andisa
worldexpertonthetopicofcargocults.

Slide21:
Part4:ReligionandChange(cont'd)
GhostDance
Listentoyourprofessordiscussthe
GhostDance.
(VideoLength03:04)
ClickonPlay

toviewthevideo.

Above:OgallalaSiouxperformingtheGhostDanceatthe
PineRidgeIndianAgency,SouthDakota.Illustrationby
FredericRemington,1890(Source:Encyclopedia
Britannica)
Below:WovokaPaiutespiritualleaderandcreatorofthe
GhostDance.HewasaPaiuteshaman(Source:United
StatesFederalGovernment,Wikimedia)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

16/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

Slide22:
Part4:ReligionandChange(cont'd)
Syncretism
Majorcrises,suchascolonialism,
forinstance,leadtotheadoptionof
setsofnewsymbolsandrituals,
whilethemeaningofliferemains
thesame.
Forexample,thisisthecaseamong
theMayaofMexicowhose
Catholicismisimbuedwithmanyof
themeaningsoftheirpre
Colombianreligion.Thesereligions
havebeencalledsyncretic,
meaningthesynthesisofoldand
borrowedelements.
CubanSanteriaTemple

Examplesarevoodooin
(Source:Flickrphotobyhoyasmeg)
Haiti,SanteriainCuba,
CandomblinBrazil.AllinvolvesomeblendbetweenCatholic,African,andnative
Americanbeliefsandsaints.

Slide23:
Part4:ReligionandChange(cont'd)
NewReligions
FrenchphilosopherAndrMalrauxclaimedthatthe21stcenturywouldbereligiousoritwould
notexist(Le21mesicleserareligieuxouneserapas).
Malrauxseemstohavebeenright.Notonlyhastherebeenareinforcementandradicalizationof
someestablishedreligionstowardsamoreorthodoxbend(Islam,Catholicism,someChristian
denominations),butnewreligionshavealsodeveloped.Theseattractpeoplefromotherreligions,
butalsopeoplewhowereraisedoutsideofreligion.

LetslistentoDr.DeirdreMeintelspeaktousaboutreligionand
modernity,andaboutglobalizationandthesearchforsymbolic
meaningandresources.

Dr.MeintelisfromthedepartmentofanthropologyattheUniversitdeMontralandisa
specialistonmigrationandethnicityinCanada,andofnewreligions.

Slide24:
FinalThoughts
Religionisfoundin
allculturesofthe
world,butingreat
diversity.
Religionseemsto
http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

17/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

contributetosocial
order,toanswer
generalquestions
aboutonesplacein
theworldandthe
orderofexistence,to
appeaseanxietyand
providesolace.
Allreligionsofthe
worldinvolvebelief
insupernatural
beingsandpowers,
ritualsand
expressionof
feelings.
Variationinbelief
systemsinsocieties
isoftenrelatedto
socialand
environmental
contexts.
Newreligionsoften
emergeinperiodsof
socialupheaval.

FoodforThoughtWhydoreligiousdifferencesoftenresultinintolerance?
Above:TheChurchoftheHolySepulchreisoneofthemostimportantpilgrimagesitesinChristianity
(Source:DarkoTepertDonatus,Wikimedia)

Slide25:
ALifeinAnthropology

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

18/19

2/4/2016

eConcordia - Introduction to Culture - Lesson 5: Religion: Ritual, Myth and the Cosmos (Print Version)

http://www.econcordia.com/courses/introduction_culture/_lib/print.aspx?lesson=5&courseName=introduction_culture

19/19