AnthroArchives

Views of Ancestors Across Cultures

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many different cultures have many different beliefs when it comes to ancestors and how they affect the lives of their decedents. Most of these beliefs stem from religion and what religions have been a part of that culture.

The Native American’s of North and South America have many varied beliefs, but some of the shared one’s are that the ancestors watch down on the living. That the ancestors are to be revered and honored.

Asian cultures such as the Chinese have a similar belief. They would pray to their ancestors and keep the family ‘honor’ which could have been received by or given by the ancestors that they were honoring.

Christianity is the belief system that a good portion of western culture follows. Christians believe in a heaven and a hell. If you live a good and pious life you will get into heaven and if you live a sinful life you will go to hell. Those ancestors that have passed on are believed to watch over the living (keeping in mind the assumption that they got into heaven and did not go to hell). However this is really only true back a few generations, usually to parents or grandparents. It almost never extends back farther than that.

Many cultures around the world share a variety of beliefs about their ancestors. That they can impact their lives, that they have nothing to do with them, that they’re watching over them and a multitude of other beliefs as well.

The Changing Nature of Marriage and Family in American Society

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Marriage is definitely looked upon nowadays in a different light. Years ago the idea was for couples to date, get married and have children. Now, it seems as though that has been reversed. Many modern day couples choose to forego marriage altogether and instead live together, and even have children together, without ever signing a piece of paper that declares them married.

Then, there’s the topic of same-sex marriage. People seem to be torn straight down the middle when it comes to the subject of whether same-sex couples should be allowed to get married, just as any other couple has for centuries. If two people are in love then they should be allowed to do as they please.

Some people see marriage as a special union between two people that shows the world how they feel about each other, while others view marriage as confining and unnecessary. Then, there’s the select few who get married because it’s the right thing to do.

Whatever your view on the institution of marriage is, it’s nice to know that there is a place where you can discuss your feelings openly. Being able to discuss your feelings on marriage openly is a freeing experience.

How Minimize Ethnocentrism

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Ethnocentrism or the belief that one’s ethnic or cultural group is of paramount importance and from that stance all other ethnic and cultural groups measured. The only way to minimize and remove ethno stratification is through assimilation (or melting pot) of the minority subgroups. This is a long and arduous process, and unfortunately the minority class will experience hostility throughout it.
In order to promote assimilation we need to work to reduce the cultural differences between the dominant and minority groups. Unfortunately, this places the burden of change firmly on the minority group as the dominant groups cultural identity is already the established norm.Never heard of this before? Get up to speed here. Removing legal and other barriers that have been established by the dominant group to exclude minorities is also an equal priority that is the sole responsibility of the dominant group. Such laws only promote deeper divisions. To fully assimilate the minority group, it may be necessary to educate minority groups so that they may establish or improve any skills they are lacking, prohibiting them from effectively participating in society; however the majority of inequality is inherited and cannot be earned since there is not free movement between the groups and generations. Which makes true assimilation challenging.

Our Favorite Anthropological Movies

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Anthropology is a subject none too well suited for television but when the right directors get involved this study can make a fascinating subject. Here are a few of the best Anthropological films to keep an eye out for at your local video store or on direct.tv satellite…
Into the Great Pyramid: This is one of National Geographic’s greatest films and explores the discoveries made by anthropologists working on the great pyramids of Egypt. If you love documentaries you’ll love this riveting story.
Living With the Mek: Only released in 2008, this film follows documentary filmmakers as they travel to Papua to attempt to gain access to the Mek, one of the most revered associative groups of all time. A riveting watch and heartbreaking story of isolation.
Edge of Existence: Another offering from the folks at National Geographic, this docudrama follows filmmakers as they travel to the ends of the earth to take an inside look at cultures who live isolated from the rest of the world as they have for thousands of years. A fascinating and eye-opening journey into other cultures.

Shamanism and the Spiritual World

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A shaman is a person who has concrete and direct relations with the world of gods and spirits. He is able to see them face to face, he can talk to them, and he may plead with them. The communication with the above-mentioned forces is always two-sided. Shamans speak to their chosen spirits, their lords and masters, and they receive advise and support from them.

Rituals of invocation serve to attract unseen power, and the used techniques are numerous and differentiated. They, furthermore, vary in culture, religion and region. Among the means of correspondence with the spirit world are shaman costumes, masks and drums, amulets, chanting, as well as a unique dance style and body gesture.

In order to lure forces into communication, a shaman imitates a replica of the so-called “power animal” in a particular dance. In this manner, he beckons the guardian spirit through distinct clothing, make-up, gestures and sounds. Talking to spirits includes worshipping them. Thus, shamans perform ritual songs, dances and offer their blood as a sacrifice.

In shaman tradition, the four directions and the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) are particularly glorified. Trance induction and communication with the spiritual world leads to a long-term contact. Therefore, shamans are entering in a certain contract with the supernatural beings, which leads to mutual obligations: The shaman must offer a sacrifice, and the spirits are required to help the shaman or his patients.

Particularly important for a shaman is the communication through dreams and visions. In these states of mind, another door to the invisible ambience of gods, ghosts and demons opens up. For shamans, the world of the dreamer is the other reality from which they can take information in order to help another troubled being.

Constants Across Civilizations

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Humanity when taken as a whole is incredibly diverse and many of our customs and behaviors don’t just seem to be contradictory, they are. For all their confusing and often conflicting view on what is expected of a member of society, they all spring form the same needs. Our differences by be legion, but they all derive from the same basic desires and needs.

One of the constants that cuts across all human cultures is food. Without it, life is rather challenging. Sustenance is something that we need, yet all over the world good food is a matter of pride. We eat to celebrate, to mourn, to reaffirm ourselves. Having a meal with those close to us is a core element of celebrations the world over.

Family and community are two other constants of the human condition. The structures differ greatly and may even offend the sensibilities of another culture, but they all fulfill one intensely human need. To belong, to be valued. To be truly alone in the world is something many of us fear. We combat that isolation by seeking out those that we consider like us. When studying our differences we discover how similar we really are.

Human Behavior, Nature or Nurture?

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The question of Nature vs. Nurture is often the topic of heated debate. Do our genes or our environment determine who we are? Your genetics gave you Aunt Suzie’s nose, but are they responsible for giving you her cooking skills? Or did your ability to master the family’s secret lasagna recipe a result of spending every holiday at Aunt Suzie’s elbow helping her cook? Did you not only inherit Grandpa’s chess set, but also his ability to check mate Grandma at every game

The Nature part of the Nature vs. Nurture question is genetics. Physical traits you inherit from your relatives, eye color, height, body type, etc. These are hard wired and usually cannot be changed. The Nurture part of the debate is the environment you grow up in. Do the people and culture around you have an influence on your behavior and personality? Are you born as a blank slate and shaped completely by your surroundings?

Studies are often done on twins to study the nature vs. nurture question. Twins, separated at birth are adopted to different families and raised in different parts of the world. Often, the surprising result when the siblings are reunited is that they still share similar interests and personalities. This may prove that genetics, or nature, has at least some role in who you are.

Globalization, Good or Bad?

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When asking if globalization is good or bad, the answer must be, “Yes.” There are nearly countless ways in which it has been good, but there also are many ways in which it can be seen as having been bad.

Much of the discussion of globalization’s effects centers on the exploitation of poor and uneducated citizens of developing nations. In the past, sadly, many such accusations were true. The fully-avoidable disaster at the Bhopal, India site of the former Union Carbide stands as an example of dangerous and exploitative practice.

On the other hand, there is a very long list of the benefits that globalization has made possible for much of the world’s population. Two of those benefits are an increased standard of living and a heightened awareness of environmental issues.

Increased standard of living is an obvious benefit, resulting from new employment opportunities and economic growth in the local area. Heightened awareness of environmental issues is not always so clear, particularly when looking at pictures of Beijing smog or the environmental damage done in Singapore in the early days of its journey to becoming a mature economy. South Korea learned from these and others. Given its desire and ability to industrialize and lack of funds to reinvent the environmental wheel, South Korea merely adopted every pertinent rule of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to gain the benefits of economic growth without environmental damage. That program is described in a case study, http://www.epa.gov/ies/korea/korea-factsheet-04-09.htm and cost-benefit analysis.

When answering the question of whether globalization is good or bad, the questioner must realize that there is no all-or-nothing conclusion. Ultimately, the real answer lies in what effect globalization has had on specific people groups involved.

Oldest American Dog Discovered

www.anthroarchives.org — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Though primarily a study of humanity, in some instances, Anthropology extends itself beyond the mere parameters of Homo sapiens. Such is the case when discussion turns towards the topic of the human need for companionship. While yes, men and women are ultimately drawn towards one another, neither sex can claim the title of “Man’s Best Friend.” Reserved rather for a furrier four-legged counterpart, dogs have been on record as present among humans for more than 11,000 years.Still, while canine accompaniment is quite literally old news, human/dog history added a little more to its annals in January, when researchers at the University of Maine Department of Anthropology and Climate Change broke news of the oldest dog remains ever uncovered in the Americas, a fossil found in Texas‘ archaeologically-famed Lower Pecos area. Believed to be approximately 9,400 years old, or some 65,800 dog years, it’s unclear as to what capacity this pup served in the local community.While dogs have been primarily domesticated since their earliest documented days, throughout the period of time in question, dogs were used for a multitude of purposes, including pet companionship, escaping the cold, hunting for food and food itself. In fact, the stigma surrounding human consumption of dog meet is a relatively new development. Though it has been frowned upon in the United States, some Native American tribes, as reported by explorer Meriwether Lewis, who tried the taste for himself over the course of his travels. Internationally, dog meat is a delicacy in many countries, particularly in Asia, but not exclusive to the Far East. In Switzerland, for example, though dog meat may not be produced for commercial purposes, dog sausage and dog jerky remain relatively commonplace in northeastern Swiss states (or cantons).

New Discovery about Icelander’s New World Roots

www.anthroarchives.org — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:28:05 +0000

With more and more world citizens skeptical of the Columbian “discovery” of the New World, further evidence may suggest that the Norsemen beat him to it by nearly a half millennium. Not to mention the fact that the so called New World was only new to Europe, quite old terrain to generation upon generation of Native Americans. With that said, new revelations suggest interactions between Viking explorers and the Native American population that include Native Americans making the trip back to Iceland. What does this mean?For starters, this has major implications for Icelandic ancestry. According to Frettabladid, the theory, which was suggested in a master’s thesis at University of Iceland by Sigridur Sunna Ebeneserdottir, indicates genes atypical from those of entirely European descent, as noted in previous research, align with those found in Americans around the time of year 1000 CE, when it is believed the Native American individuals were brought back to Iceland. Furthermore, evidence suggests that these particular genotypes were not found among Inuit tribes in Greenland, which could in effect debunk the theory, rather were correlated to the American mainland.There is documentation in archived Viking writings that a ship full of Norsemen traveled to the modern day Newfoundland area in 1000CE. Most likely, this ship would have brought back Native American women in its return, though the nature of this transaction cannot be known at this point. The entire study is merely theory so far, to be either disproven or hold true pending further research, however, such information will an impact on the genealogical history of hundreds of Icelanders.