Anthropology 1010
Reflecting Writing
What is anthropology? How has your understanding of anthropology changed since the beginning of the semester?
Anthropology is the study of humans, talking about past and present. A central concern of anthropology is the application of knowledge to the solution of human problems. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archeology, and biological anthropology. What I learned about anthropology since the beginning of the semester is that anthropology can have three specific perspectives which can be cultural, holistic and comparative. This new focus give me a broad view of what really is anthropology which can be understood under the means of a whole and complete area of study that can be applied to different fields of study as well. Inside definition, culture is one of the elements because is share and learned through thoughts, believes, values, and rules of conducts. Also, holistic because it is integrated as a whole and it is completely understand with all its parts. It is comparative because beliefs and behaviors are relatively considered in the perspectives of the many societies culture.
How can your ethnographic project be useful for one or more of your future hobbies, studies, or career goals?
It can be useful in many ways due to the deep understanding that I got from this culture. I can say I did not understand before Chinese culture with these complete insights. Now I appreciate better this beautiful culture and understand the complex of history, ideologies, manners and traditions. I can say that Chinese culture as a whole it is very intricate and mysterious, but now I got to know better about the individual and how society, personal beliefs, history, and material culture can mix to create the personal and social cultural conscience. I feel now more confidence to visit again this great country with a new perspective and understanding of the culture. Also to know that every behavior, manner, rule of conduct or norm can be understood under the context of that culture or past that molded the same. This ethnographic project broad my mine to see that every culture is beautiful in its own practices, ritual, rules and beliefs. I created a conscious way of thinking about the differences between human beings, being able to celebrate and understand that behaviors and conducts can be measure according to their social environment, background and many other factors. It will help me to be able to better communicate and negotiate in the many social, educational or job circles I can be involve.