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What is anthropology?

Miah Smith

Salt Lake Community College

Anthropology 1010

Professor V

October 09, 2021

 What is anthropology? For the people who don’t know what anthropology is, it is

basically the study of what makes people human. To understand what makes people human,

anthropologists analyze and observe humans of different variations, from the past and present,

both biologically and culturally. We wouldn’t know about human evolution - how we’ve evolved

- without studying the behaviors & societal mannerisms of the past, that have brought us into the

present, or even looking into the future. There are four major subfields that are studied:

archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. By

studying human behaviors from different cultures & backgrounds, anthropologists have been

able to provide good insight into problem-solving and a better understanding of the current world

we live in.

The subfields of anthropology all study human behavior, which unifies them through

holism, change, diversity, culture, and cultural relativism. However, each field is very different

& distinguished by what specifically the anthropologist is studying, and how they are studying it.

“Anthropology examines how people’s patterns of thought and behavior are shaped by culture

and how those patterns vary from society to society.” (“Introduction to Anthropology”, 2021).

Archaeology is the study of culture. They specifically analyze things people have made.

Biological anthropology is the study of adaptation. They look at how people adapt or change, to

all the different environments. Cultural anthropology is the study of how people live and

understand the world around them – other cultures, ethnicities, diversities. And lastly, linguistic

anthropology is the study of how people communicate across/around the world.

In cultural anthropology, the method of study used is called ethnography. This research

method “was originally developed by anthropology to study small-scale, relatively isolated

cultural groups.” (Katie Nelson, year unknown). The ethnography method is very cool because
you get to do your study in person with interviews and by physically watching & observing the

behaviors of the culture & people being studied. There is a lot of hands-on, in-person research

that goes into this method of studying human behavior. This gives personal insight, feelings, and

emotions that you can’t gather from just ‘reading a book.’ Don’t be fooled though, ethnography

also includes literature study as well.

Anthropology is important for a better understanding of the world we live in because

anthropology investigates everything about humans. This helps us understand different people

and their cultures around the world. Anthropology helps us humans understand ourselves and

each other. Anthropology helps us learn about our past, present, and future, which connects all

people from around the globe.

Can anthropology contribute to the solution of practical problems? I believe, yes! A short

essay, Anthropology: An Explanatory Method to Understand Our World, that won the

Anthropology Scholarship Award, discussed how understanding the relationship between

humans and their environments, has forced adaptation and evolution. The author specifically

mentioned climate change – how it “affected ancient people to the extent that they had to

relocate, utilize different technology, and sometimes change their diet.” (Nate Stanley, 2011) He

goes on to mention similarities in change regarding weather patterns in Alaska and Canada

presently - “These patterns disrupt their hunting seasons, making hunting routes passed on

through generations dangerous and at times impassable.” (Nate Stanley, 2011). By analyzing

other’s research, we can better understand “why we act the way we do, and how it affects our

physical, cultural, social, and political environments…it’s easier to help others when you first

understand them.” (Nate Stanley, 2011).

 Anthropology is captured reality, it “speaks of what is true, not of what is politically

salient, socially acceptable, or financially fruitful.” (Melissa Wrapp, 2011). This type of

behavioral study isn’t black and white, it’s real-life information that helps with positive social

change today. We’ve all heard the saying that communication is the key to success, and I agree.

Tiffany Davis, another anthropology scholar, stated, “It isn’t always an issue of what you say,

but how you say it and how it is perceived by the other party involved.” (Tiffany Davis, 2011).

Anthropology studies every aspect of human existence, including communication & language,

both vocally & non-vocally. By understanding how others have lived in the past, and obtaining

the knowledge of what worked, what went wrong & then being able to learn from mistakes

made, I feel that we have a better knowledge-based on how to solve current practical problems.
Reference:

https://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/about/anthropology.html

https://www.americananthro.org/AdvanceYourCareer/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2150

https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199926909/stud_res/ch1/outline/

http://individual.utoronto.ca/boyd/anthro5.htm

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-culturalanthropology/chapter/fieldwork/

https://uh.edu/class/ccs/_docs/AnthroScholarship_Winners2011.pdf