I am in a cultural anthropology class and need to choose a cultural group to write about. Any ideas?

Question

The cultural group is defined as socially contructed, historically transmitted set of symbols, meanings, rules and premises. I am really struggling with this topic and could use the help with some ideas. Thank you

Answer 1

The Scottish people refuse to be less intelligent than common drabble. The Scottish people refuse to be the sheep they sometimes tend. Check out the nasty Scots--they will surprise you.

Answer 2

passamaquoddy indians, princeton maine

Answer 3

Writing about your own cultural group would be difficult because you would miss the things that are common to you.  I would go with a group that is foreign.  Like the Yanamamo.  Of course, they might be a group you have to read about for the course (many cultural anthropologists have their ethnography as required reading).  I would go to the library and type in 'ethnography of" and see what turns up and interests you.

Is it something you can observe.  There are always subcultures all around you.  Maybe try to hang out in the theater department's green room and observe them for a few days.  See how they are different from your own social group.  Or pick some other spot where a group with shared interests that are different from your own hang out.

Answer 4

I would do the Indus Valley Civilization (3000-1500 BCE), also known as the Harrapan society, because there is a lot of information on it and it was a very advanced culture at that time.  They had exceptional santiation systems that used drains to carry away wastewater.  Related to art, there were beads, soapstone inscriptions, anatomically detailed figurines, and gold jewelry.  They had good knowledge in measuring length, mass, and time.  They also had their own symbol system and productive agriculture.  You should be able to find much material on the Indus Valley civilization.

Here is a website to better acquaint you:

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/His...

Good luck.

Answer 5

Write about your own cultural group. If you can deconstruct your own social baggage that will make you a much better anthropologist. The first step to exploring other cultures is understanding how your own one informs, alters and inhibits the way you see them.