Explain cultural relativism by interpreting your own everyday life and everyday spaces as products of culture.

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Ethnographic paper

Goal: The goal of this assignment is to explain cultural relativism by interpreting your own everyday life and everyday spaces as products of culture.

Topic: Anthropologists pay special attention to surroundings, architectural layout, organization of space as well the behavior individuals display in different spaces. Most often such things are taken for granted as we experience them. For this paper, you will mimic Horace Miner and take an ethnographic approach to your own everyday reality. Please select a site that you regularly spend time in and have not thought twice about; then attempt to look at it from afar as a stranger. For those of you who live on campus, this might be a location. For others, an off-campus spot such as the grocery store might be an option. In your paper, discuss the specifics of the site, such as rules of access, proper conduct etc. This requires a detailed description of the space, an explanation of what goes on in this space as well as the interactions that seem to take place seamlessly among individuals. In other words, you are expected to take this site that you take for granted (the familiar) and demonstrate how ‘strange’ it might be for an outsider. If you want, you can also discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the culture of the location you are writing about, from how individuals access it to what they do in it. Your analysis should demonstrate that you understand cultural relativism.

Style: You can use various styles of writing for this reflection. You can write it as a typical short paper, in which you adopt an analytic tone. If you want to be more playful, you can use a style similar to Horace Miner’s in the Nacirema article . This would mean a descriptive style that doesn’t have the analytic tone of a regular academic paper. A third option is to write in the form of a story or even a poem if you choose to do so. As long as you use the concept of cultural relativism to show how a space you take for granted is itself “cultural” the style of writing is yours to choose.

Select an ethnic group other than the one they primarily identify with and which is represented in the current population of Southeastern Louisiana. Projects consist of various assignments that are due on different dates throughout the semester.

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Class Project:.

Southeastern Louisiana is a highly diverse region whose social landscape has been shaped through migration, colonization, forced displacement, and human trafficking during the last 10,000 years. Today, New Orleans and its surrounding areas are home to people with cultural roots in all continents. For this project, students will select an ethnic group other than the one they primarily identify with and which is represented in the current population of Southeastern Louisiana. Projects consist of various assignments that are due on different dates throughout the semester. The assignments and their due dates are as follows:

1. Introduction to cultural group: The student will indicate the cultural group they will be focusing on throughout the semester and will provide a brief description of that population’s cultural and migration history. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

2. Religion and Cosmology: The student will provide a description of the primary religious behaviors their chosen cultural group has practiced in the past and is practicing in the present. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

3. Language: The student will provide a brief description of the language(s) primarily spoken by their chosen cultural group, including the language’s primary features and broader language family. Students should reflect on how the language of their chosen cultural group differs from Standard American English. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

4. Economic Behavior: The student will provide a brief description of the past and present primary subsistence and economic practices of their chosen cultural group. Assignment must be based on the review and citation of at least 2 scholarly sources (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one-inch margins, 250 words).

5. Food or Popular Culture: The student will either a) provide a description of the foodways of their chosen cultural group. Assignments should discuss themes such as ritual importance, meaning, and ecological origins and impact. Assignment must be based on the review of at least 1 scholarly sources and 1 or more popular sources (2 pages, 12 pt type, double spaced, one inch margins, 250 words), or b) provide a description of an event or example of popular culture (music, film, social media) related to the cultural group they are focusing on (1 page, 12 pt type, double spaced, one inch margins, 250 words).

Briefly restate what primate(s) you observed. Compare and contrast the two methods that you used for observing primate behavior in the video. Which method did you find more challenging for your observations? Which method would you recommend for collecting time budget data for primates?

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Primate Behavior Report

This assignment has three parts that follow the scientific method: 1. Prepare for the observation; 2. Observe primates in videos; 3. Report the findings.

  • Supplies Needed
  • Internet connection
  • Access to Youtube
  • Primate Observation Playlist – Use this link to access the Primate Observation Videos
  • Observation Worksheets
  • Relevant Learning Resource

Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. Chapter 6: Primate Ecology and Behavior. Explorations.

Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall revolutionized the study of chimpanzees during her fieldwork in Gombe, Tanzania. The behaviors she witnessed changed our perception of apes from instinct-driven creatures to tool-inventing beings.

In this activity you will learn about ethology, or how researchers turn observations of living things into scientific data, and then create a report of what you saw. While we cannot go to Gombe on short notice, we can watch uncut videos of zoo-dwelling primates online and apply scientific techniques to go beyond what a typical zoo visitor sees.

There are different ways to collect data on animal behavior. We will be practicing scan sampling whereby the observer records the behaviors of the group at set intervals, as well as focal sampling, which involves recording every action of one specific individual over a length of time.

Part One: Preparation

Before watching primates, you have to prepare for what you expect to see in order to save time and effort later when you are intently focused on your living subjects. First, pick one of the videos to observe from the Primate Observation Playlist.

Which video will you observe ?

Apply the scientific method and make a prediction about what will you see. Answer the following question:

Which behaviors do you think you will see when watching the primate video for 15 minutes (or as long as it lasts – some are a bit shorter)?

Now set up an ethogram (see below), which is a table used to record animal behavior. You will use this table while observing the primate video in order to reduce writing and produce a standardized data set of what you saw. Put short descriptions of behaviors in the left column. Some have been added for you but you should add more based upon your general knowledge of primate behavior.

Primate Ethogram Continuous Focal Follow

Behavior Time (1:00-15:00)

  • 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
  • Out of View
  • Standing
  • Sitting
  • Sleeping
  • Eating
  • Playing
  • Interacting in any way with others
  • Primate Ethogram Scan Sample

Behavior Time (1:00-15:00)

  • 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
  • Out of View
  • Playing
  • Sharing Food
  • Grooming
  • Fighting
  • Eating
  • Sleeping

Now it is time to use your ethogram to record primate behavior. After you select the video use two different methods for observing the primates. For one method (continuous focal follow), watch one individual and do a continuous follow for 15-minutes, indicating all of the behaviors, and interactions with other primates in the video. The second method is a scan sample of the group – every minute stop the video and write down what all the animals (who are in frame on the video) are doing (including directions of any social interactions).

You may have to view the video several times, as you practice each method of behavioral observations for your Primate Report

Read these instructions in full before starting:

Play the video you chose in Part One – You may have to watch twice to fill out both ethograms.

Using the video’s timer or your own stopwatch app, keep track of the time.

Every minute, record the behaviors of the primates you see using the ethograms you set up in Part One. Mark each square for each behavior you see at each time. If you are watching multiple primates try to keep track of each one by using a short unique name for them.

End observation at 15 minutes.

Here is a sample table:

  • Behavior/Time
  • 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00
  • Out of View B, C A, B C
  • Sitting A, B A, B A C B
  • Sleeping C C A
  • A: Adult male, B: Adult female, C: Juvenile

Part Three: Analysis and Report

Your data set allows you to quantify how much time each primate spent with each activity. For each individual, calculate how many times they were seen performing each behavior by filling out this table

Time Budget for Individual – Focal Observation:

  • Behavior/
  • Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times
  • Out of View Not calculated
  • Standing
  • Sleeping
  • Sitting
  • Eating

See this example based on the adult male in the example ethogram:

  • Time Budget for Individual: A: Adult Male
  • Behavior/Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times * 100
  • Out of View 1 4 Not calculated
  • Sitting 3 75%
  • Sleeping 1 25%

Time Budget for Groups – Scan Observation:

  • Behavior/
  • Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times
  • Out of View Not calculated
  • Playing
  • Sharing Food
  • Grooming
  • Fighting

Using your data sets and time budgets, write a report of what you saw. Follow these instructions to write an effective report that is at least 750-1000 words. Your report should be well-organized, and clear to best communicate your message. Make sure to follow proper APA formatting guidelines.

Your report should include the following sections:

Introduction: Which primate(s) did you observe (provide genus, species and subspecies)? Summarize the natural habitat and geographic distribution of this primate species in the natural world. (You may find out this information from Primate Fact Sheets found at the Primate Info Net website, http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets, in addition to information provided at zoo displays or zoo website).

Body: Start with a description of the scene and the individual primate you focused on. Then describe the actions you saw in order from beginning to end. Include specific details. Then tell the reader in more detail what you saw in your scan observation. Start with a description of the scene and the group of primates you focused on. Then describe the actions you saw in order from beginning to end. Describe specific details. .

Present your analysis of time budgets. How much time did each individual spend with each behavior?

Compare and contrast the observed behaviors with those of human beings. Are there similar behavior patterns in humans? Why or why not?

Conclusion: Summarize your paper for the reader. Briefly restate what primate(s) you observed. Compare and contrast the two methods (focal follow and scan sample) that you used for observing primate behavior in the video. Which method did you find more challenging for your observations? Which method would you recommend for collecting time budget data (i.e., how group spends their time) for primates? End this section with a short summary of what you actually saw and whether it matched what you expected.

 

Using academic references in the course, discuss the notion of skill from anthropological or sociological perspectives. Identify how the usage of “skill” differs, expands on or connects with its usage in the labour market or in educational/training settings.

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Forum Discussion

Using academic references in the course, discuss the notion of skill from anthropological or sociological perspectives. Try to identify how the usage of “skill” differs, expands on or connects with its usage in the labour market or in educational/training settings. (200-2cho50 words; not including references)

Articles:

  • Epilogue
  • Envisioning Skills: Insight,Hindsight, and Second Sight by Michael Herzfeld

The Skill Requirements of Work Activity: An Ethnographic Perspective by Marietta L. Baba Department of Anthropology Wayne State University Detroit

 

Briefly restate what primate(s) you observed. Compare and contrast the two methods that you used for observing primate behavior in the video. Which method did you find more challenging for your observations? Which method would you recommend for collecting time budget data for primates?

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Primate Behavior Report

This assignment has three parts that follow the scientific method: 1. Prepare for the observation; 2. Observe primates in videos; 3. Report the findings.

  • Supplies Needed
  • Internet connection
  • Access to Youtube
  • Primate Observation Playlist – Use this link to access the Primate Observation Videos
  • Observation Worksheets
  • Relevant Learning Resource

Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. Chapter 6: Primate Ecology and Behavior. Explorations.

Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall revolutionized the study of chimpanzees during her fieldwork in Gombe, Tanzania. The behaviors she witnessed changed our perception of apes from instinct-driven creatures to tool-inventing beings.

In this activity you will learn about ethology, or how researchers turn observations of living things into scientific data, and then create a report of what you saw. While we cannot go to Gombe on short notice, we can watch uncut videos of zoo-dwelling primates online and apply scientific techniques to go beyond what a typical zoo visitor sees.

There are different ways to collect data on animal behavior. We will be practicing scan sampling whereby the observer records the behaviors of the group at set intervals, as well as focal sampling, which involves recording every action of one specific individual over a length of time.

Part One: Preparation

Before watching primates, you have to prepare for what you expect to see in order to save time and effort later when you are intently focused on your living subjects. First, pick one of the videos to observe from the Primate Observation Playlist.

Which video will you observe ?

Apply the scientific method and make a prediction about what will you see. Answer the following question:

Which behaviors do you think you will see when watching the primate video for 15 minutes (or as long as it lasts – some are a bit shorter)?

Now set up an ethogram (see below), which is a table used to record animal behavior. You will use this table while observing the primate video in order to reduce writing and produce a standardized data set of what you saw. Put short descriptions of behaviors in the left column. Some have been added for you but you should add more based upon your general knowledge of primate behavior.

Primate Ethogram Continuous Focal Follow

Behavior Time (1:00-15:00)

  • 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
  • Out of View
  • Standing
  • Sitting
  • Sleeping
  • Eating
  • Playing
  • Interacting in any way with others
  • Primate Ethogram Scan Sample

Behavior Time (1:00-15:00)

  • 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
  • Out of View
  • Playing
  • Sharing Food
  • Grooming
  • Fighting
  • Eating
  • Sleeping

Now it is time to use your ethogram to record primate behavior. After you select the video use two different methods for observing the primates. For one method (continuous focal follow), watch one individual and do a continuous follow for 15-minutes, indicating all of the behaviors, and interactions with other primates in the video. The second method is a scan sample of the group – every minute stop the video and write down what all the animals (who are in frame on the video) are doing (including directions of any social interactions).

You may have to view the video several times, as you practice each method of behavioral observations for your Primate Report

Read these instructions in full before starting:

Play the video you chose in Part One – You may have to watch twice to fill out both ethograms.

Using the video’s timer or your own stopwatch app, keep track of the time.

Every minute, record the behaviors of the primates you see using the ethograms you set up in Part One. Mark each square for each behavior you see at each time. If you are watching multiple primates try to keep track of each one by using a short unique name for them.

End observation at 15 minutes.

Here is a sample table:

  • Behavior/Time
  • 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00
  • Out of View B, C A, B C
  • Sitting A, B A, B A C B
  • Sleeping C C A
  • A: Adult male, B: Adult female, C: Juvenile

Part Three: Analysis and Report

Your data set allows you to quantify how much time each primate spent with each activity. For each individual, calculate how many times they were seen performing each behavior by filling out this table

Time Budget for Individual – Focal Observation:

  • Behavior/
  • Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times
  • Out of View Not calculated
  • Standing
  • Sleeping
  • Sitting
  • Eating

See this example based on the adult male in the example ethogram:

  • Time Budget for Individual: A: Adult Male
  • Behavior/Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times * 100
  • Out of View 1 4 Not calculated
  • Sitting 3 75%
  • Sleeping 1 25%

Time Budget for Groups – Scan Observation:

  • Behavior/
  • Calculation
  • Boxes Seen Total Visible Times Boxes Seen/Total Visible Times
  • Out of View Not calculated
  • Playing
  • Sharing Food
  • Grooming
  • Fighting

Using your data sets and time budgets, write a report of what you saw. Follow these instructions to write an effective report that is at least 750-1000 words. Your report should be well-organized, and clear to best communicate your message. Make sure to follow proper APA formatting guidelines.

Your report should include the following sections:

Introduction: Which primate(s) did you observe (provide genus, species and subspecies)? Summarize the natural habitat and geographic distribution of this primate species in the natural world. (You may find out this information from Primate Fact Sheets found at the Primate Info Net website, http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets, in addition to information provided at zoo displays or zoo website).

Body: Start with a description of the scene and the individual primate you focused on. Then describe the actions you saw in order from beginning to end. Include specific details. Then tell the reader in more detail what you saw in your scan observation. Start with a description of the scene and the group of primates you focused on. Then describe the actions you saw in order from beginning to end. Describe specific details. .

Present your analysis of time budgets. How much time did each individual spend with each behavior?

Compare and contrast the observed behaviors with those of human beings. Are there similar behavior patterns in humans? Why or why not?

Conclusion: Summarize your paper for the reader. Briefly restate what primate(s) you observed. Compare and contrast the two methods (focal follow and scan sample) that you used for observing primate behavior in the video. Which method did you find more challenging for your observations? Which method would you recommend for collecting time budget data (i.e., how group spends their time) for primates? End this section with a short summary of what you actually saw and whether it matched what you expected.

 

Distinguish between ethnicity and “race.” What does it mean to say that “race” is a social construction?

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GED210 – INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Writing Assignment 3. Distinguish between ethnicity and “race.” What does it mean to say that “race” is a social construction?

 

Reply to your friend and explain why this notion of race is incorrect, based on what we have learned in the first unit.

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Human Variation

You are talking with a friend about what classes you are taking this semester and when you mention you are taking a class on Human Variation and race in Anthropology, your classmate says “Wow! I bet you are going to learn how to see race in a skull! Isn’t cool how you can learn all about your race from your biology?”

Your task is to reply to your friend and explain why this notion of race is incorrect, based on what we have learned in the first unit.

What are its benefits or flaws, as described by the individuals interviewed? How do you think Mosuo culture relates to our discussion on gender roles, sexual inequality, egalitarianism and modes of production/resources? on monogamy and marriage? the labor economy?

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Journal #1

Journal Instructions

1. Read the prompt and use it as a guide for your response.

2. Cite any sources using AAA format (Author Publication year, page #).

3. Responses are required to be 2 pages in length, 12 size font and 1.5 spaced.

4. Save responses either as a PDF or as a shared and editable google doc (preferred). *If you decide to use a shared and editable google doc: Share – General Access – Anyone with the link – Editor – Done. Then send the link in an email.

5. Submit via email to by the due date. Put the class code and section in the subject of the email (AN T/PSY 210.01). Submissions without the full course code & section will be checked last.

Journal #1 Choose ONE of the following options:

Option A: What are some examples of the relationship between gender and power? C. Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “We Should All be Feminists” and Mascia-Lees text both tackle issues of what feminism is and how women’s narratives in history & culture has been widely neglected by the social science disciplines (among others). Choose a quote or theme from both the TED Talk & the article that you found complemented one another. Explain why. Reference the other materials we’ve discussed so far in class to strengthen your argument.

Option B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t I9D7tEixc&ab channe1=VICELife After watching the short VICE doc, consider the following: How is Mosuo social structure and kinship unique, and what are the factors that contribute to this? What were the different perspectives of ‘walking’ marriage; what are its benefits or flaws, as described by the individuals interviewed? How do you think Mosuo culture relates to our discussion on gender roles, sexual inequality, egalitarianism and modes of production/resources? on monogamy and marriage? the labor economy? Consider the effects of globalization on Mosuo culture- the sexualization and demonization of walking marriages, the Western gaze, tourism, etc.- and how the younger generation of Mosuo women are interested in ‘outside’ culture.

Any other thoughts on the community’s practices, connections to class discussions/readings, or critiques /comments on the film?

Write a well written paragraph or two , based on critical thinking, to elaborate the reason(s) you posed the question in the manner you did.

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Extended Questions

Read and write 1 extended questions for each articles (So 5 questions in total).

  1. a) an initial question directed toward a major concept/issue/theory/topic under discussion in the article or chapter (if you could ask the author a question);
  2. b) a well written paragraph or two (about 200-300 words), based on critical thinking, to elaborate the reason(s) you posed the question in the manner you did (and which may or may not include further, corollary, questions).

In other words, express why your question is an important one to consider

Articles:

1 Negritude: A Humanism of the Twentieth Century by Leopold Sedar Senghor

5 Remembering Fanon: Self~ Psyche and the Colonial Condition by Homi Bhabha

3 National Liberation and Culture by Amilcar Cabral

2 On National Culture by Frantz Fanon

4 Can the Subaltern Speak? by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

 

Describe the item and where it was made. What is the history of the object? What kind of impact does the item have on your life? What about the people who made it?

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Cell Phone

Go to chapter 2 Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A tool kit for global age third edition Kenneth J Guest d (Ebook available at Nortonebooks.com)

Post a description of an object /artifact and, if possible, a photo, of the object. Describe the object’s history on our online discussion board.

Describe the item and where it was made. What is the history of the object? What kind of impact does the item have on your life? What about the people who made it?

As you read through your classmates’ posts about objects from their own lives, think about the global impact on day-to-day lives Review what a cultural iceberg is in Chapter 2 module. What is the value of this artifact? What does it symbolize?

Think like an anthropologist. Use specific vocabulary, at least 5 terms and concepts from the Chapter that a cultural anthropologist would use in your posts and responses.