Cultural anthropology

Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans. It is in contrast to social anthropology, which perceives cultural variation as a subset of a posited anthropological constant. The term sociocultural anthropology includes both cultural and social anthropology traditions. Anthropologists have pointed out that through culture, people can adapt to their environment in non-genetic ways, so people living in different environments will often have different cultures. Much of anthropological theory has originated in an appreciation of and interest in the tension between the local (particular cultures) and the global (a universal human nature, or the web of connections between people in distinct places/circumstances). Cultural anthropology has a rich methodology, including participant observation (often called fieldwork because it requires the anthropologist spending an extended period of time at the research location), interviews, and surveys. The rise of cultural anthropology took place within the context of the late 19th century, when questions regarding which cultures were "primitive" and which were "civilized" occupied the mind of not only Freud, but many others. Colonialism and its processes increasingly brought European thinkers into direct or indirect contact with "primitive others". The relative status of various humans, some of whom had modern advanced technologies that included engines and telegraphs, while others lacked anything but face-to-face communication techniques and still lived a Paleolithic lifestyle, was of interest to the first generation of cultural anthropologists. One of the earliest articulations of the anthropological meaning of the term "culture" came from Sir Edward Tylor who writes on the first page of his 1871 book: "Culture, or civilization, taken in its broad, ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

Related concepts (94)

Related courses (36)

Related lectures (27)

Meaning in Architecture: Aldo van Eyck, Denise Scott Brown

Explores the architectural philosophies of Aldo van Eyck and Denise Scott Brown, emphasizing the creation of built meaning and the integration of past experiences into present designs.

Post-seismic Reconstruction in Urban Nepal

Explores post-seismic reconstruction efforts in urban Nepal, emphasizing community-driven action plans and earthquake-resistant housing solutions.

Leibniz's Reckoning Machines

Explores the development and reconstructions of Leibniz's reckoning machines, classical narratives, and the interdisciplinary approach to science.

Le cours explore les mythes et les textes fondateurs des cultures antiques (Monde biblique, Grèce, Rome, Egypte). Explorant leurs significations, leurs réceptions, il s'agit de dérouler une histoire d

Cet enseignement aborde les notions et thèmes relatifs aux cultures et sociétés des mondes chinois ainsi que de ses aires voisines (la Corée et le Japon) et discute de leurs enjeux actuels dans une pe

Cet enseignement aborde les approches conceptuelles de l'anthropologie de l'urbain, les méthodes et les expériences de terrain. Il vise à développer dans une perspective historique et comparative des

Sociology

Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. In simple words sociology is the scientific study of society. It uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order and social change. While some sociologists conduct research that may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, others focus primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of social processes and phenomenological method.

Social science

Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of society", established in the 19th century. In addition to sociology, it now encompasses a wide array of academic disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, economics, human geography, linguistics, management science, communication science and political science.

Cultural anthropology