Cultural anthroplogy

There are 4 different assignments below

1.

Read chapters 1 and 3. Look at local, regional, national, and/or international news stories this week, and consider how the news story relates to anthropology. To do so, respond to these questions: 

       a) What is the news story about?  What are the key pieces of information?

   b) Why did you choose the story?

c) How does your story relate to chapters 1 and 3?  That is, concerning chapter 1, which anthropology specialties or sub-fields might relate to your news story, and why?   What problems are being investigated or solved in your story?  Concerning chapter 3, what aspects of culture and ethnographic fieldwork  might your story be related to?     

2. Read chapter 7 and answer the question

In large communities, it can be difficult for people to feel a sense of connection or loyalty to people outside their immediate families. Choose one of the social-integration techniques used in tribes and chiefdoms and explain why it can successfully encourage solidarity between people. Can you identify similar systems for encouraging social integration in your own community? 

3. After reading chapter 4 on language and communication, talk about language, communication, meaning making, and identity within the realm of  online social media. The goals of this project include:

1) Explain a particular form of social media as if you were talking to someone who had no knowledge of that network and social media in general.

2) Relate your use and understanding of social media to key linguistics and meaning making concepts discussed in the chapter.

Answer all 9 questions in at least 2 pages 

1. What social media will you describe and explain, and why? 2. In general, how would you characterize this form of social media? 3. What are the rules and culture of this particular communication and social network?  That is, how do people use it?  What is acceptable and unacceptable behavior with this kind of social media? 4. What kind of security settings are there?  How might these settings impact communications through this form of social media? 5. What impacts does this kind of social network have on your life and the lives of others?  (For instance, how is it useful and/or unhelpful?  How is it a positive, negative, or neutral force?  How might it help people advance or hold people back?) (We can categorize this kind of analysis as the socio-linguistic analysis of social media.  See chapter 4 for more on socio-linguistics.) 6. How would you improve this particular social media form? 7. What else would you like to say about this particular social media form? 8. How does the form of social media you describe relate to at least 3 concepts or ideas from chapter 4? 9. In a single post, compare and contrast at least 2-3 distinct forms of social media. Analyze the following:  What are the similarities and differences in terms of each forms rules and cultures, each forms impacts on peoples lives, and the ways in which you might improve each form?

4. Part 1.

1. Foraging in Copenhagen:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/inside-nomas-kitchen-how-the-worlds-best-restaurants-food-is-created/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqDaZsgR5zg (One clip will play, but from the youtube list you can choose others that reflect foraging as the restaurant, Noma, perceives it.)

1. How is foraging defined in the videos and what are its essential characteristics?  

2. What kind of impact do you think foraging generally has on the environment?

2. Horticulture Training in Kenya:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dohWAZ2T5Y8

 1. How is horticulture defined in the video and what are its essential characteristics?  

2. What kind of impact do you think horticulture generally has on the environment?

3. Slash and Burn Agriculture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOq7QZXTdI

1. How is slash and burn agriculture defined in the video and what are its essential characteristics?  

2. What kind of impact do you think slash and burn generally has on the environment?

4. Alley cropping: 

1. How is alley cropping defined in the video and what are its essential characteristics?  

2. What kind of impact do you think alley cropping generally has on the environment?

5. Pastoralism:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws8WXKAThK8

1. How is pastoralism defined in the video and what are its essential characteristics?  

2. What kind of impact do you think pastoralism generally has on the environment?

6. Potlatch:

Generally speaking, this is an event where people are invited to attend a ceremony or occasion where their bonds with the party host(s) are reaffirmed through the host(s) giving gifts and other goods to the attendees out of appreciation. The video clip discusses a funeral potlach held specifically to commemorate the life and death of a person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JVJ76FVVxY

The potlatch video clip explains the significance of a funeral potlatch or mode of distribution and exchange where people pay their last respects to the deceased and in return are offered food and drink, often at a reception or celebration of life party. Based on the video, why is this type of potlatch significant? Can you think of anything similar that exists in your own culture?

Part 2.

Read chapter 5 and post your responses to 2 of the discussion questions at the end of chapter 5.