Exam 2: Culture

The notion of a culture of consumerism is distinct from the concept of culture more generally.Do you think that the culture of consumerism affects culture more generally in some way,and if so,how? What are some benefits and drawbacks of the culture of consumerism in society today? Do you think it will affect the future of societies,and if so,in what explicit ways?

Family gatherings that honor particular moments in our lives-weddings,special holidays,and so forth-are often sources of tension when different family members want to "change things up." As a facet of culture and how we learn it,this reminds us that culture is a shared experience and is

Margaret Mead's (1901-1979)fieldwork in Samoa was controversial in part because she examined sexual freedom and considered sex to be a matter of

In your own words,define the term ethnocentrism and provide a concrete example that illustrates the concept.Then discuss how ethnocentrism is related to cultural relativism and why anthropologists must concern themselves with ethnocentrism when conducting cross-cultural research.Conclude by offering some suggestions for concrete ways in which anthropologists can counter ethnocentrism in mainstream society today.

Spatial comfort zones,such as standing too close to a member of another culture,are examples of which of the following?

Bronislaw Malinowski employed an early form of ________ in his anthropological research conducted in the Trobriand Islands.

Which of the following individuals was among the earliest anthropologists who sought to organize vast quantities of data about the diversity of world cultures that were being accumulated via colonial and missionary enterprises?

The advent of computers and deregulation of banking in the 1970s initiated major changes in our financial environment.One of the biggest changes was

What is human agency and how does it relate to culture and power? Define human agency and provide examples of how individuals engage in it.Next,discuss how human agency may be used to challenge various aspects of culture and power,providing a minimum of two examples for each.What do you believe are some of the implications of human agency on culture and society in general?

Anthropologist Margaret Mead is best known for her research on sexual freedom and experimentation of young women in Samoa,drawing sharp contrasts to American women's

The credit card industry in the United States is able to extend credit to nearly anyone,even if he or she is unable to repay the credit card debt;this is especially noticeable in

The uneven distribution of resources and privileges,often along lines of gender,racial or ethnic group,class,age,family,religion,sexuality,or legal status,is termed

Using an interpretivist approach,anthropologist Clifford Geertz argues that seemingly straightforward actions such as winking have deep cultural meanings.Describe what constitutes an interpretivist approach.Next,provide your own example of a cultural action that you think conveys deep cultural meaning.What do you believe the action symbolizes culturally? How do you know that the action conveys deep cultural meaning,and how did you learn its meaning? Would an individual need to be a member of the particular society in order to understand the deep cultural meaning of the action,or would anyone be able to interpret it correctly? Discuss why or why not.

Culture is more than a set of ideas or patterns of behavior shared by a group of people because it also includes general mechanisms created by people to promote and maintain their core values.The recent changes in same-sex marriage laws reflect what kind of mechanism?

In 1989,a large number of people in China rose up to protest the lack of democratic process in Tiananmen Square,an event that was brutally repressed by the government and widely reported around the world.When they did this,they were

Mental maps of reality constitute one of the four elements that anthropologists often consider when conducting cross-cultural research.Define mental maps of reality and discuss the two important functions that mental maps of reality play regarding culture.Provide a concrete example for each of the two functions.Conclude by discussing why anthropologists should consider a group of people's mental maps of reality when trying to understand their culture.

The work of many nonanthropologists through the nineteenth century suggested what theoretical idea about human life that anthropologists applied to culture?

The process of diminishing the diversity of the world's cultures as a result of foreign influences inundating local practices,products,and ways of thinking is considered

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)described two aspects of power that included material power and the ability to create

An anthropologist studying female circumcision might be horrified by the practice,but must also be able to suspend personal judgment in order to understand the beliefs and practices of others within their own cultural context.This is understood as