Unit+1+-+Introduction

Introduction: Anthropology, Humanity, Globalization //Editions by Carla are italicized// Defining Culture:

Heterogenous --- diversity within a culture is greater than between (cultural universals) Divisions within…

[|CULTURE ANTHROPOLOGY TUTORIAL]

Major Topics: 1) Ethnocentrism = extreme loyalty to ones own culture -- Group idea- //I would define ethnocentrism as// //the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture or// //a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own.// **([])**

Why are Americans better (//different)// than other countries? (list reasons) What are some problems with American culture? (list problems)

2) Cultural Relativism = PROVIDE GOOD EXAMPLE
 * Definition = //concept that the importance of a particular cultural idea varies from one society or societal subgroup to another, thus aspects (moral, cultural,etc.) of each society should be regarded within that culture's context.//
 * //Example://

- look at from their point of view - can not judge them from your point of view - importance of studying other cultures - //does not excuse 'global moral boundaries' (ex. genocide, murder, etc.)// //Excellent Article on Cultural Relativism: []// //Relevant Blog Entry:// //Cultural relativism does NOT mean that whatever a different culture believes/does is morally OK, that there are no moral absolutes. Quite the opposite: cultural relativism is all about finding universals in human morality and behavior.// //What differs is how they go about it.// //Basically, to delineate cultural universals, you can go one of two ways:// //1. Assume that your society’s culture perfectly encapsulates moral purity, and use it as the standard of universalism to determine what is moral and what isn’t. This is of course what the Nazis did.// //2. Get a wider sample by studying morality, beliefs and actions among people from different cultures before rushing to judgment. This is a scientific approach to studying tricky issues like culture and morality: it requires that we regard our own culture, not automatically at the pinnacle of human perfection, but as another sample from the data set. In other words, if you want to find *universal* human values, get a *universal* sample. THAT’S the point cultural relativism makes.// //Every culture has its morality; to study culture and morality scientifically, we need to be methodical and comparative, not knee-jerks clinging to liberal vs. conservative political ideologies. Science requires an open mind, not a closed one.// //At the same time, NOTHING in cultural relativism requires that we like a different culture or agree with its morality. The point is to understand the human condition by examining what humans believe and do.// //You cite Nazism and Nazi apologists as examples of cultural relativism, but nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, Nazism was predicated on #1 above, not #2, and you’ll note that cultural relativists (who were around in great numbers during that time) were horrified and opposed to the Nazis every step of the way – not at all the idiotic pacifists you depict them as being.// //I’m not a proponent of postmodernism, so I won’t put a word in for them. But as for the ‘liberals’ and ‘cultural relativists’ who you demonize, please consider looking more carefully at what cultural relativism actually means and what issues the theory addresses before judging it to be ‘mumbo-jumbo’.//

3) Globalization = media type="custom" key="6577151" //Great clip!! Where'd you find this?//

Possible Examples-- A. English = 2nd most common language in the world. Most widely spoken language. Language of business in Western World (including Japan) 1 billion people B. McDonalds/ Walmart = [|IS THE WORLD FLAT?], [|WALMART AND THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION] C. Cell Phones = D. Sports (basketball, etc)

Why globalization has occurred? Need for resources Access to quick transportation Money Advanced technology (internet, etc) Breaking down language barrier Past history of wars (leave culture in certain places) -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan

PREVIEW EACH REGION: Geography History Economy Religion Languages? Leisure Social Organization/ Family structures/ Schools Technology Values

--- Day in the Life of different places 1) living in certain city (give 5 facts about city) (pop, landscape, climate, access to resources, political situation, country) a:living situation //b: hospitals and health care// c. transportation d: school life e: communication through example f: what do you eat g: social problems you deal with

4) 'People are people, are people'

//-Point that though differences separate humans, these students have more in common with people of the globe than they think.//

TRIMESTER PROJECT: creation of a culture in groups…taking aspects from all the different continents.