Michael Kernan's Around The Mall And Beyond

While reading in both books about ethnography I was shocked to learn that there was a ton of different theoretical perspectives. I was also shocked at how the theories are so different from one another. For some the only similarity is that it is the study of humans. Before the class I thought that there was a set way on how anthropology was studied but I very quickly found out that is not the case. Anthropology is very broad and is open to tons of different interpretations. There is no set way on how we must go about researching and studying.

The author begins the article by preparing the audience what is about to come. Telling the audience that cultures around the world have unusual customs and an anthropologist would even seek out a culture that has one when everyone seems to agree. He then talks about the Nacirema tribe and the extremities of their practices.

Throughout the book, the author has many mishaps, but in the end she is able to gain an insightful view into the culture of this small Danish community. The reader learns that through misfortunes that you share with others, you can gain their trust and friendship. She also teaches the reader the meaning of important anthropological terms by outlining a specific term in each chapter. Overall, the best part of the book is the point that even if an aspiring anthropologist struggles in the field, with enthusiasm and an inquiring mind, they can still learn a lot and accomplish great

Gretchen Vogel, a contributing correspondent for the journal Science, wrote an article on how primate culture can help us learn the roots of human culture. Vogel refers to a primatologists and psychologists research on differences in habits between chimpanzee groups at different locations. The research mostly focuses on chimpanzees and their ability to learn from one another. Vogel writes about the evidence of primate culture that is based on field studies comparing the chimpanzee skills and behaviors in groups around Africa. According to Vogel geographic differences impacts a chimpanzee’s specific behavior and skills. She states that even if we do not consider primate behaviors a culture researchers say that primate traditions may offer insight

In order for our business, The Broadway Café, to become more competitive in this environment, I deem it necessary to build a collaboration tool that will stimulate contact, knowledge, information, and events among employees, customers, suppliers, and all others who are interested in the business.

In his essay, “Navigating Genres”, Kerry Dirk describes rhetorical genres in funny layman’s terms which made me want to read more. Dirk states the obvious – that through everyday life, we are familiar with different rhetorical genres because we encounter and use them every day. We may not be conscious of it, but whenever we listen to a particular kind of song, or see a TV advertisement for a product we use, or hear a political commentator on the radio, we are being exposed to various rhetorical genres. When we see a horror flick, we are being exposed to another type. When we “post” on Facebook or Instagram, we are using a relatively new kind of genre which came about in response to the digital age.

In the Body Rituals of the Nacirema, the author Horace Miner makes a very intriguing analysis of the Nacirema culture and their beliefs. Throughout the course of the passage, we are able to see how he closely observes the nacirema culture and tries to understand their living habits and daily lives. Miner explains to us how their culture consists of unusual practices and almost magical rituals. Of course, the work that occurs throughout the passage resembles the work that a cultural anthropologist would do. A cultural anthropologist travels to different parts of the world in order to observe and study a plethora of different cultures and their beliefs. In the beginning of the passage, Miner explains how an anthropologist becomes accustomed to the peculiar traditions of different cultures because they interact and closely examine them. It is this reason why I believe this article would fall under the field of cultural anthropology. Cultural Anthropology is defined as the study of culture, traditions, and environment (Haviland, 2017). The passage allows us the opportunity to closely examine the ways and traditional beliefs of the nacirema . For instance, in the passage Miner states that the Nacirema loathe their physical appearance, “The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease” (Haviland, 2017). Horace Miner not only focuses on their beliefs but their perspective and way of

Explain how culture shapes and gives meaning to the lives of the people described in the reading.

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a collection of tales is presented during a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral. The pilgrims on the journey are from divergent economic and social backgrounds but they have all amalgamated to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas. Chaucer uses each pilgrim to tell a tale which portrays an arduous medieval society. The values, morals and social structures of the society can be examined through the fictitious tales, unravelling a corrupt, unjust and manipulative world, a world that is based around an ecclesiastical society.

Have you ever seen -- or even heard -- of an animal called a sugar glider?

In “Enclosed. Encyclopedic. Endured: The Mall of America,” David Guterson’s description concerning the Mall of America researches into numerous surfaces that are entrenched throughout the mall both physically and psychologically. David Guterson claims that the Mall is a psychological impact on the applicants inside. He makes this claim through his portrayals of the shopping mall’s: exterior and interior environment, the people he interviews, and the malls many titles.

1976). It may be important to note that these three cultures, though ‘primitive,’ share similar

143). She illustrates how essential culture is to anthropology and how anthropology helps to balance culture, as well as its ties with race. She considers culture and race as opposites. “Culture is learned and can change,” (Abu-Lughod, p. 144), and race is something inborn. Although she can only depict and explain the concept of culture, and how it has become necessary and not the reasons behind it.

Since the emergence of anthropology in the late 1800’s, the customs and methods of this academic discipline have been altered in many ways. It is assumed that in the early years of anthropology, theorists relied on travelers in order to articulate their theories (Dahl 2017). This practice is known as armchair anthropology and involves creating theories without any fieldwork. Some examples of famous armchair anthropologists include Edward Burnett Tylor and James Frazer. The work of both theorists involved no travelling or conducting of fieldwork. Early anthropology focused on primitive cultures and how societies transformed from being barbaric to civilized. In modern days, anthropology is discovering new topics to study every day and the information relies a great amount on fieldwork and lab work conducted by anthropologists to support their findings. As some of the early methods of anthropology continue to be used by anthropology, more are being developed in order to produce more efficient research and theories.

Capital punishment is most evident and controversial when the state convicts and kills an individual when they have used violence within a certain territory therefore committing a capital crime. In the majority of countries around the world, the law permits the state to impose a lifelong confinement but withholds the authority to take a life. Currently, in 109 countries, the death penalty in law or practice is rejected while 86 retain and use the death penalty but most do not practice capital punishment on a regular basis. Furthermore, in a ten-year span, between 1990 and 2001, over 30 countries abolished this cruel mode of punishment and nations are continuously deciding the state should not have the right to take a persons life. The death penalty should be abolished because it violates human beings right to life and it is a biased and unfair procedure that racially and socially discriminates minorities and the poor. Although many support the death penalty, punishment leading to death is not the answer signifying retributivism and deterrence may seem appealing but are not the most favourable systems. Therefore, rehabilitation is the most effective technique benefitting both the individual and society.