Big Picture A
Big Picture A
Big Picture A
Week 1-3: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are expected
to:
a. Discuss the nature, meaning, and relevance of anthropology; identify its four sub-
disciplines and related social sciences and differentiate between ethnology and
ethnography.
Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Discuss the nature, meaning and relevance of
anthropology, identify its four sub-disciplines and related social sciences and
differentiate between ethnology and ethnography.
Metalanguage
In this section, the most essential terms relevant to the study of SST 311/EDSST3
and to demonstrate ULOa will be operationally defined to establish a common frame
of reference as to how the texts work in your chosen field or career. You will
encounter these terms as we go through the study of Socio-Cultural Anthropology.
Please refer to these definitions in case you will encounter difficulty in understanding
the basic theories, principles and concepts discussed n Socio-Cultural Anthropology.
• Anthropology is the study of the human species and its immediate ancestors.
• Archaeologists dig into ancient cultural diversity by recovering and analyzing the
material remains of prehistoric and modern societies.
• Cultural Anthropology combines ethnography and ethnology to study human
societies and cultures for the purpose of explaining social and cultural similarities
and differences.
• Ethnography produces an account (a book, an article, or a film) of a particular
community, society, or culture based on information that is collected during fieldwork.
• Society is organized life in groups, a feature that humans share with other animals.
Essential Knowledge
To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcomes) for the first three (3)
weeks of the course, you need to fully understand the following essential knowledge
that will be laid down in the succeeding pages. Please note that you are not limited
to exclusively refer to these resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize other books,
research articles and other resources that are available in the university’s library e.g.,
ebrary, search.proquest.com etc.
1. What is Anthropology?
1.1 Anthropology is the study of the human species and its immediate ancestors.
1.2 Anthropology is holistic in that the discipline is concerned with studying the whole
of the human condition: past, present and future. Anthropology studies biology,
society, language, and culture.
1.3 Anthropology offers a unique cross-cultural perspective by constantly comparing
the customs of one society with those of others.
https://www.dw.com/en/german-archaeologists-suggest-biblical-era-philistines-came-
from-europe/a-49467592
1.4 Archaeologists dig into ancient cultural diversity by recovering and analyzing the
material remains of prehistoric and modern societies. By reconstructing past ways of
life and constructing culture histories, archaeologists are able to explain the
dynamics and evolution of cultural systems.
1.5 Biological (Physical) anthropologists investigate the biological diversity, behavior,
and evolution of humans and other primates (such as lemurs, howler monkeys,
baboons, and chimpanzees).
1.6 Cultural anthropologists discover the unique and universal aspects of
contemporary cultures by living with the people under study. They travel to all
corners of the globe in order to understand the full range of modern cultural diversity.
https://twitter.com/cpkottak
1.7 Linguists examine languages from around the world, as well as other forms of
communication of humans and other primates. Major topics researched by linguists
include the history and origins of languages, the structure of language, how
language relates to social aspects (such as race, class, age, and gender), and
language and cognition.
1.8 All fields of anthropology are characterized by first-hand observation, or
fieldwork.
Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further understand the lesson:
Kottak, C. P. 18th Edition (2019). Cultural anthropology: appreciating cultural diversity. McGraw-
Hill Education.
Kottak, C. P. 16th Edition (2015). Cultural anthropology: appreciating cultural diversity. Mc Graw-
Hill Education.
Stein,R.L.&Stein,P. (2017). The Anthropology of religion, magic, and witchcraft. 4th edition. Third
Avenue, New York, Routledge.