Key Concepts in Social Anthropology

Lecture 1: Social Anthropology – A dubious discipline?

Why social anthropology? 1. Common origins/ cognate discipline 2. Food for
sociological imagination 3. Valuable tools and perspectives for understanding
What is it?
Social Anthropology: ‘Anthropology can be defined as the comparative study
of humans, their societies and their cultural worlds. It simultaneously
explores human diversity and what it is that all human beings have in
common’ (Eriksen 2017: 3).
Cultural Relativism: ‘Cultural relativism is primarily a method (not a world-
view) designed to explore cultural variation as independently as possible
from the researcher’s prejudices. Its aim is to learn to see the world, as far
as possible, in the same way as the informants, or “natives”, see it’ (Eriksen
2017: 14).
Called ethnology or folklore studies in some places. How anthropology has
developed in the UK. Comparative discipline, how humans live and organise
their lives in different societies. Eurocentric bias in the past, focus on the
West but anthropology looks at all societies. Beliefs, religious systems differ
etc., looks at diversity and what is common to all human beings.
What do they do? - Develop theories of human cultural variation and the
drivers of this - Fieldwork, study concrete social situations, empirical work -
Comparison of results of research in order to generate more general theories
- Translation – concepts, ideas, ways of living from one culture to another -
Investigate a wide range of theme o Nature & culture o Persons
& relations o Power & Policy
Different spheres have their own logic, and need a discipline to look at these
spheres, disciplinary divides prevent us from
Social anthropology and colonialism - Child of western imperialism
& colonialism - Dubious in whose interests it serves - Period it
develops mid-19th C was time of colonial expansion - Role of anthropology –
tool propping up colonialism
Questions are still relevant, can be asked about anthropology, sociology and
criminology. Need transformation for interest of the majority, draw on a
range of knowledge from around the world not just western. Reinvented in
ways that challenge views and dominance of English – world anthropologies,
make more global and more equal
Lecture 2: Theory and Ethnography
Malinowski (1992) ‘Argonauts of the Western Pacific’ - Pioneer &
founder of social anthropology - Focuses on the form of exchange ->
Kula, red shells and white shells circulated throughout the Islands. There are
rules and ceremonies associated. - Ideal that anthropologists should aspire
to, an ideal. - Studied Anthro at LSE - Studied, researched and lived in the
Trobriand Islands for 2 and a half years. 10 times longer than any other
anthropological study. - Studied them in order to ‘grasps the native’s point
of view’ as he wanted to gain the insiders perspective, how they organised
their lives, marriage, kinship, religion, political relationships etc. also looked
at how they saw themselves, the natural world, death and life. - Saw all
human beings as having fundamental needs, and that groups need to
survive. - Culture shapes the way different groups go about these
fundamental things, what they share as human beings and the cultural
differences - ‘Off the Veranda’ – he didn’t simply interview the people he
studied on the veranda of a big house, he lived among the people and got to
know their way of life, immersed himself in their everyday life. Longer you
stay the better you see the cycles of food production, agriculture and other
things so you understand them better. He also learnt their language. - He
took field notes as he observed them but also asked the people about what
they were doing so he could see the differences.
Ortner (2010) ‘Reflections on studying up in Hollywood’ - Her attempts of
anthropological research in Hollywood, she wants the first to do so. Even in
the early years of anthropology, they studied different settings etc. -
Professor at University of California. - Different place to do anthropological
work in contrast to villages etc. often studied. Delocalised but with a ‘very
strong sense of its boundaries’ it has features and characteristics that form a
community. - Key areas: film lots where only certain members of the
community go
Lecture 3: Translation and Comparison
Campbell 1989 – attempts to provide a relational account, Campbell looked
at the obscure things in life and at puzzles and mysteries, especially focusing
on ideas of death and what causes death in both Wayapi’s lives and ours. He
looked at some idea that are taken for granted. It is written in an engaging
style. Documents his encounter with Wayapí people living in the Amazon
Rainforest (Amapa). At time of writing a highway was due to be built
through their land. Last 40 years their way of life has bene continuously
under threat from miners etc. defend their rights against MNCs.
Anthropologists have ethical and moral connection to those they have
studied. Western world believes in death by natural causes and others have
ideas of unnatural and supernatural causes of death such as spirits. The
Wayapí don’t believe in death by supernatural causes when it comes to
suicide or homicide, and they do believe in death by old ages or by
misadventure/ accidents. Shaman – mediator between life and spirits in
Siberian language. Language and the translation can be complicated and it is
important to pay attention to the subtle differences and not impose our ways
of thinking and talking onto other cultures. Important to study when looking
at another culture.
Translation – cultural as well as linguistic. Understanding what is behind
some ideas and understanding the reasoning of it. Translation of local words
to concepts (enabling comparison). Importance of glossing and
contextualising – explanations of terms provide meaning but sometimes
mean that there is no 1 to 1 translation. They are often expanded on and
explained. Often have to consider whether they should translate particular
things, such as traditional events or rituals that aren’t open to outsiders, it is
making secret ideas public. They have to think about balance; making the
account accessible and being faithful and original. Not misunderstand.
Comparison – comparative methods in social anthropology (human diversity
and universals). 3 Dimensions: - basic, all humans compare. How to
anthropologists explain and relate this? - Implicit, they are drawing
comparisons with other societies - Explicit, strong comparisons,
anthropologists have looked at some places regionally, some places
throughout time
West (2005) Politics of translation and the roles anthropologists are called
up for as a translator. Act as a go between for two different types of people/
sets of actors. Look at the effects of this role as an translator. Gimi people –
western highlands of Papa New Guinea. - They were seen as a threat to their
forest on their land. Conservationist wanted to intervene to help sustain the
forest – they wanted to encourage them to ‘value’ the forest and view it as a
source of commodities and a way of making money.

 They didn’t see it that way but instead as a place of social relations
between the living and the dead. No notions of nature or culture.
When people die they become part of the forest. They don’t

Lecture 4: Nature and Culture

How has the concept of culture been politicised?
‘Nature’ and ‘culture’ in the English Language – Williams 1988, first
published 1976. Information on key terms we use related to culture and
society. “Nature is perhaps the most complex word in the language” –
Williams 3 different meanings that have developed from the 17th Century -
Character of something - Inherent force or something that shapes the world
and human beings - The material world excluding humans
‘Culture’ one of the most complicated words in the English language -
Human development - Development of plants - Abstract approach in 19th
Century, how we think of it today such as art, music, poetry - Culture in the
plural, different nations and people have different cultures.
There is long standing interest in the meaning of nature and culture and the
relationship between the two. Key finding from this is the distinction
between the two (although this isn’t in all societies/ isn’t universal).
Culture as a key concept It is an importance concept and focus of many
debates, even as far as debating ‘how useful is it as a concept?’. 3 key
debates: - Definition of the concept Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952 – 164
definitions. Culture (singular) refers to everything which is learned such as
language and cultures (plural) idea that humanity is divided up into a
number of distinct peoples which each have their own culture has
distinguishing features such as kinship and marriage patters, economic
structures and political structures. Even though specific definitions may
differ, culture refers to a way of life between people around the world.
Fundamental similarities between people. Idea of culture was challenged
when links between anthropology and colonialism were made. The old idea
of culture saw them as fixed and unchanging phenomena. New saw it as
global links and not bounded, saw it as a process and understanding
meaning in the world. It is closely bounded with politics and history. There
was a struggle between different actors in life fighting over getting their
ideas and definitions to stick. Susan Wright explains how the 2 views have
been taken up.

 How culture has been politicised

Conklin and Morgan (1996) – the production of personhood in North America

and among the Wari people as the focus. Importance of understanding ideas
and concepts in other societies helps us look and reflect upon our own.
Western concept of Personhood -> Individualism and Egocentrism
but they acknowledged that there are differences across Western societies.
Idea of the person as self-contained, self-relying autonomous individual.
Fixed, structural markers of personhood. Biological birth and social birth.
The Wari Concept of Personhood -> they see it that personhood is
acquired gradually (and can be lost). Ideas of the body underpin and shape
ideas of the person. See it as a social creation that is created and sustained
through people. Importance if the idiom of shared substances (blood, milk
and semen). Social birth distinguished from the biological birth.
Summary - Personhood as a social category, how it is defined in societies
and what rights they have - Cultural differences and that these can change
over time - Concepts are ‘socially produced’ and crucially involve ideas about
the nature of the body - The contrast between the western and non-western
societies. - Ideas about the person embedded in society