How Cultural Anthropology Should Be Understood: a Brief Explanation

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology is the scientific and humanistic study of human beings through time and space from a holistic perspective that enables and constrains the learned cultural behaviors and social interaction shared within a particular group of people. Although this term is broadly defined, the underline specifics are seen in everyday aspects of life and discussions; however, cultural anthropologists are everywhere and study people of all walks of life. One can find a topic and find some type of study that an anthropologist has conducted on the matter.

Understanding Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropology challenges the normative processes of everyday living in a method that takes what is presumed as common or usual by one and evaluates it through what is understood as an unrecognizable perspective to determine internal and external references. The Nacirema article, written by Horace Miner (Miner, 1956), is an example of how culture challenges the natural instincts of humans to believe that those whom are described to be far from another’s norms are characterized as being different or rather bizarre. The Nacirema culture demonstrates humans’ innate internal bias towards atypical behavior. The article illustrated American cultural norms, with the use of creative wording, with a twist many would describe as barbaric behavior; when in actuality, it is the everyday activities composed by those reading the article. Miner’s countless examples of American culture biases are a depiction of cultural ethnocentrism. The article helps bring realism to an area that many often ignore when it comes to cultural intolerance.

Globalization and Cultural Diffusion

Cultural anthropology allows for the exploration of diffusion by communities across nations. Globalization increases the interconnections of media, technology, capital, and international communications. The Apple iPod campaign is a prime example of how globalization has diffused cultures in a way that expresses diversity in a unified manner. Steve Jobs, Apple product, known as the iPod, initiated its ad campaign in 2003 which appeared globally on television, billboards, city buses, and buildings (Isaacson, 2011). The black silhouette cultivates the different shapes and movement that represents individualism, and the iPod itself united other societies by correlating a connection within differences. The silhouette campaign managed to appeal to multiple ethnicities and social classes without exclusively targeting any specific market at the expense of another. While we often hear about discrepancies within cultures, anthropology helps focus on these shared commonalities that help unite cultures.

Exploring Cultural Uniqueness

Cultural anthropology explores the hidden uniqueness of the human race. Generally, most tend to generalize individuals within a country as a collective and think of them as a whole within a society. Tribes such as the Women’s Kingdom of Mosuo, China, Kotokoli of West Africa, and several villages of the Himalayan region are all places that practice the universal term of marriage in ways that contrast with the majority of traditional practices within their own countries. Although these tribes may define marriage or understand, relate the capacity to exist by means of a spectrum of ways, it is important to understand that there is no definite approach to living justifiably; although, there is no denying the happiness each culture shares within their societies, which may be overlooked, but is usually a universal ultimate ambition.

Marriage Practices Across Cultures

Cultural anthropology explores the customs and traditions that seem drastically opposing, but yet share qualities. To shine a limelight on the concept, it is important to explore the practice of marriage. Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Each practice has its areas that need improvement or adjustments. Marriage is demanding; the importance of understanding that all the different types of marriages come with their own benefits and challenges, it is difficult to determine one correct way to define marriage. The United States and India are both two countries that utilize marriage in similar aspects. Both customs believe that marriage is established by a special relationship between cohabiting male and female that is socially recognized involving economic aspects and can usually imply procreation. The key importance that is often disregarded, due to the spotlight on the cons, is that in every culture that chooses to or not to practice marriage, the people are in high spirits and satisfied with their way of life. Cultural anthropology allows marriage to not be defined by means in which others have established, but by how each custom determines it to be.

Conclusion

Cultural anthropology has the ability to educate others on similarities and differences within cultures from around the world. The gains from this knowledge for others strengthen uniformity as a universe through care and sympathy. This way will homogenize the view of the world, but also, allows the heterogeneous aspects to rejuvenate the earth. Difference is what makes each angle of the world unique; Humans’ shared innate desire for lively satisfaction can be achieved by many attributes, but this shared goal of happiness in life should never be disregarded. The pursuit of happiness is the objective; Cultural Anthropology examines all aspects in which one may acquire, around the world, throughout this journey called “life” in order to accomplish the universal bliss of life.

References

• Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster.
• Miner, H. (1956). Body Ritual among the Nacirema. American Anthropologist, 58(3), 503-507.