Intercultural Relations (not international relations)?

Question

Please read:

Sorry, I rant a lot in here

I am really interested in studies that have to do with sociology, social linguistics, intercultural relations, interpreting, *social identity, multilingual matters, foreign affairs, cross-cultural psychology, cultural anthropology, intercultural communication, etc... how society affects language, how language reflects the social mind, how psychological and natural needs shape societal norms and values, as well as the way the individual or the community's reaction TO society shapes its thinking... how culture influences perception, *Visual Anthropology *psychological anthropology, ethnography...

Cultural anthropology > symbolic anthropology (w. IR in mind)

When I talk to people they are quick to suggest a major in International Relations, and although I see it as a very interesting area of study, I am not sure it is exactly what I would like to pursue. Could someone please suggest areas of study in accordance with my interests above?

Thank You.

Answer 1

Sounds like you are on the track to become an Anthropologist.

Within this major are traditionally 4 sub-categories:

Cultural

Linguistics

Physical

Archaeology

You seem to be somewhere on the fence of cultural/linguistics, which can go hand-in-hand very nicely. My suggestion is to do some research on potential Universities and begin networking with the Anthropology department, explaining what you are interested in and asking for their suggestions on how to maximize your interests into your studies.

Answer 2

wow, you are a brainiac!!! I am impressed. Sorry I cannot answer your question though.

Answer 3

I would agree with the answers already posted in suggesting that perhaps anthro is more the way to go than IR. IR is a pretty specific discipline, it may not seem that way because of the fact that international relations (small "ir") covers such a huge array of things, but the actual subject "IR" has quite a specific history and discourse, and it covers a few of the things you seemed interested in, but certainly not as many as anthropology. Although courses differ widely from one university to the next, if you study IR you can probably expect to start out with a brief history if international relations and the theory of realism going back to the peloponesian war, then move on to the treaty of westphalia and european princes and the notion of sovereignty, then the post world war one evolution of IR as a discipline and the conflict between realism and idealism, then the introduction of marxist IR theory, neo-realism, neo-institutionalism....it's probably not until about the last 30 years or so when some of the subjects you seem interested in would start to pop up. When you get into the post-modern and the critical theory then some of the stuff that you had mentioned above (intercultural communication, the individual and her place in society-the reciprocal effect, culture and perception, etc.) and those are definitely areas that are rich for exploration but most courses would not spend a lot of time on these subjects as they are touched on by only a small minority of the work that is done within the field of IR.

Not trying to discourage you from doing IR at all, it's a very interesting subject (I did a BA and an MA in it), just wanted to give you an idea of what the standard course outline might look like and where your interests may fit into that.

My mother is an anthropologist (cultural), and I have to say that if I had a chance to do my MA over then i would have gotten into anthropology on the development side. I very much appreciated the BA in IR, but the MA was just more of the same essentially. Should have done something else. You seem like you have quite the interest in linguistics and semiotics as well...maybe you could thing about a degree in cultural anthropology with a minor in linguistics or semiotics? then if you wanted to you could do an MA in IR later (you really don't need 4 years to get most of the IR stuff down).

Sorry, was assuming you were talking about your BA now, but i realise you may not be.

hope this was of some help.

good luck!

Answer 4

Although International Relations could be more profitable, your areas of interest are much like my own.  I´m a Cultural Anthropologist, doing field research and enjoying it.  You might take classes on all the areas you are interested to find out where your interests will take you. You can work on summer internships to further refine your interests. Good luck to you!