Lecture Ecological Anthropology: Theoretical Approaches - Dr. Annuska Derks

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Lecture Ecological Anthropology: Theoretical Approaches of Dr. Annuska Derks Cross cultural study of society and environment, Influence Environment on Society vs Influence Society on Environment.

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Nội dung Text: Lecture Ecological Anthropology: Theoretical Approaches - Dr. Annuska Derks

Ecological Anthropology: Theoretical Approaches Dr. Annuska Derks
What does Anthropology contribute to the study of the environment? Crosscultural study of society and environment Influence Environment on Society vs Influence Society on Environment
Ecological Anthropology: An Overview  Early 20th century: Environmental Possibilism  1950s1960s: Cultural Ecology  1960s1980s: Ecological Anthropology: Neofunctionalism  1990snow: Ecological Anthropology: New Ecologies / Processual Approaches
3 theoretical approaches  Cultural Ecology – Julian Steward  Ecosystem Approach – Roy Rappaport  Cultural Materialism – Marvin Harris
Cultural Ecology Julian Steward (19021972) Effect of environment upon culture Ecology = „adaptation to environment“ Cultural ecology = study of adaptation to environment by means of culture; in the larger sense, the problem is to determine whether similar adjustments occur in similar environments
Method of Cultural Ecology  First, the relationship between subsistence strategies and natural resources must be analyzed.  Second, the behavior patterns involved in a particular subsistence strategy must be analyzed.  Third, it has to be determined how these behavior patterns affect other aspects of the society.
Distinction  cultural core = those features of society that are most closely related to subsistence activities and economic arrangements  secondary features = those features that are determined to a greater extent by purely culturalhistorical factors and which give the appearance of outward distinctiveness to cultures with similar cores
Shoshone Indians – Great Basin Source: http://www.aaanativearts.com/Native_American_map.jpg
Shoshone Indians  Small hunting and gathering groups  Dry harsh environment  Low population density  Exogamy  Patrilocality  Patrilinear kinship Source: http://artfiles.art.com/5/p/LRG/37/3726/Y8PAF00Z/skintepeesshoshoneindians18801910.jpg
Patrilineal band = cultural type as a result of environmental adaptation = crossculturally recurrent (Africa, Australia, America) = uniformity results from similar exploitation of the environment
Ecosystem Approach Roy Rappaport (1926 1997) Human role in ecosystems Source: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Rappaport,_Roy_A. Ecosystem = A community of plants and animals within a particular physical environment that is linked by a flow of materials through the nonliving (abiotic) as well as the living (biotic) sections of the system. (A Dictionary of Geography. Oxford University Press, 2009)
Neo-functionalist approach Ecosystems:  Selfregulating & homeostatic (keeping balance)  Humans are one of many components within the chain of exchange within a bounded area  Culture is subject to forces of natural selection and adaptation like any other type of animal behavior
Pigs for the Ancestors (1968) Tsembaga of New Guinea  Maring speaking group (≈200 people)  Heavily forested area  Low mountain range  Little contact outside world  Horticulturalists (taro, sweet patato)  Pig raising
When there are too many pigs…  Pigs = humans in taro consumption  People must work to support pigs when their numbers grow to a certain level  Produces sanitation problems  Produces conflicts among neighbors
Understanding the ritual cycle  Explanations based on cognized environment (Tsembaga): ritual as sacrifice for the ancestors to settle relations with the supernatural  Explanations based on operational environment (anthropologist): material environment that can be observed and measured (caloric intake, agricultural output, labour investment, etc. in relation to ritual and other events)
Ritual cycle Source: http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~jkukac/Casestudies_files/image001.gif
Rappaport’s Conclusions Rappaport argues that pigs are an integral part of a RITUAL CYCLE that serves important ECOLOGICAL functions. This cycle theoretically: 1) maintains an undegraded environment 2) distributes local surpluses of pork and assures people high quality protein when they are most in need of it 3) limits warfare to frequencies that do not endanger the survival of the regional population but which allows occasional redistribution of people over land and land among people
Cultural Materialism Marvin Harris (19272001) Human social life is a response to the practical problems of earthly existence Cultural materialism = an anthropological school of thought (or "research strategy") that says that the best way to understand human culture is to examine material conditions climate, food supply, geography, etc.
Cultural materialism  Also called technoenvironmental or techno economic determinism  Distinction:  Emic perspective = the point of view of natives  Etic perspective = anthropologist’s point of view Harris regards the etic category as more important than emic category because outside researchers are able to see the basic foundations of social structures, i.e. to reveal and explain the ecological rationale underlying various aspects of culture.
Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches (1974) Exploring the material causes for apparently irrational and inexplicable lifestyles. E.g. Why do Hindus refuse to eat beef even though they’re starving? Source: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/indiaphotos/#/sacredcows_6738_600x450.jpg