The Point Of This Assignment Is To See Anthropology In The E
The Point Of This Assignment Is To See Anthropology In the Everyday Ha
The point of this assignment is to see anthropology in the everyday happenings in our country and around the world. For this assignment, you must find a current news article (ideally within the past few weeks) that relates to cultural anthropology in some way. You will write a 2-3 page report consisting of three elements: 1) a summary of the article 2) how it relates to anthropology (does it deal with gender, religion, race, ethnicity, class, politics? etc.) 3) critique of the article: are they being ethnocentric? Or are they using cultural relativism? (We will learn about these terms).
Paper For Above instruction
The goal of this assignment is to analyze contemporary news articles through an anthropological lens, emphasizing the integration of cultural understanding into current events. The process involves selecting a recent news article—preferably from the last few weeks—that pertains to cultural anthropology themes such as gender, religion, race, ethnicity, class, or politics, among others. This selection should come from credible sources like NPR, BBC, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Fox News, or MSNBC to ensure journalistic reliability and relevance.
Once a suitable article is chosen, the assignment requires a comprehensive report spanning two to three pages. The report should begin with a concise summary of the article, encapsulating its main points, context, and relevant details. This summary serves as a foundation for further analysis and critique.
The second element involves relating the article to anthropological concepts. This connection can explore how the article addresses issues related to cultural practices, beliefs, social structures, or identities. For example, if the article discusses a social movement, public policy, or cultural conflict, the analysis should consider how these aspects reflect underlying anthropological themes such as gender roles, religious beliefs, racial identities, ethnicity, or socio-economic class.
The final component is a critique that assesses the perspective and framing of the article. This requires determining whether the author’s approach exhibits ethnocentrism—judging other cultures by one’s own cultural standards—or whether it employs cultural relativism—analyzing cultural practices within their own cultural context without bias. This critique encourages a thoughtful evaluation of how media representations influence perceptions of different cultures and whether they promote understanding or reinforce stereotypes.
References
Boas, F. (1911). Anthropology and Modern Life. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Goldenweiser, A. A. (1922). The Significance of Culture. American Journal of Sociology, 27(5), 633-648.
Kuper, A. (2003). Culture: The Anthropologists' Account. Harvard University Press.
Lutz, C. A., & Collins, J. L. (1993). Reading National Geographic. University of Chicago Press.
Narayan, U. (1997). Dislocating Cultures: Identities, Traditions, and Third-World Feminisms. Routledge.
Pels, P. (2010). Anthropological Perspectives on Cultural Relativism. Annual Review of Anthropology, 39, 85-99.
Segal, L. (1990). Is God a Male? The Stuggle for Theological Equality. Beacon Press.
Smith, C. (2012). The Ethnography of Media and Communication. Wiley-Blackwell.
Tylor, E. B. (1871). Anthropology. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 2, 1-16.
Zelizer, B. (2010). How Media Narratives Shape Cultural Perceptions. Routledge.