Anthropology and history?

Question

i love history and i am considering a career in anthropology. what are the subdivision of anthropolgy? which one is the most interesting for some one that doesn't want to lead to the archeology side? iam in high school so what college is best for it and what classes in high school should i take for it? thanks

Answer 1

I wish I were in your shoes again with the task of college-hunting on the horizon.  It's a blast!  And you're in luck since I'm an Anthropology major!  In the US the traditional subdivisions of the discipline of Anthropology are Archaeology (which is sometimes listed as its own discipline in America, mostly at larger, well-known state universities, the Ivys, and a few liberal arts schools, like Wesleyan and Dickinson; it's usually its own discipline in the UK and other parts of the world), which deals with cultural change through the study of material artifacts; Sociolinguistics, which investigates the connection between language and culture and society, borrowing from disciplines like Philosophy, Philology, and Linguistics (there could still be a little work on bridging the gap between Anthropology and Psychology, in my opinion, especially in regard to this particular subdivision), Biological Anthropology, which deals with evolution (general "bones and stones," the evolution of humans as a species); and the most famialar Cultural Anthropology, which investigates the most elusive component of the human experience: culture.  As you can tell, Anthropology is a very broad subject and is at its most abstract defined generally as "the study of humans."  I, too, have a deep love for History, but have always found studying purely historical events as devoid of real meaning.  Adding the anthropological element to it, it gives history new life.  I'm not sure why you dislike Archaeology (perhaps the science aspect?), because it seems to be the perfect marriage.  Many schools that offer the Archaeology major allow you to select an area of concentration, such as focusing on Greco-Roman history (or Egyptian, Prehistoric, or anything else, for that matter), Geology, or Anthropology.  It seems like focusing on Cultural Anthropology would allow you to glean the most out of your historical studies.  We're all too familiar with the Thor Heyerdahls who sailed around the world in an antique boat and Bronislaw Maliowski who lived with Papua New Guineans.  Anthropologists in this area tend to study living cultures; the days of "arm-chair Anthropology" are over (every hear of Sir James Frazer and his Golden Bough?  It's a famous text quoted redundantly by amateurs interested in the study, comprised of other peoples research.  You have to get in the culture to understand it--and to get funding nowadays).  But studying a peoples way of life, their literature or oral traditions, and peoples perceptions of theme is history in the making.  My favorite part is the mythology and folklore, which, to me, gets to the core of the cultural mind (because culture has everything to do with why we act, comprising behavior, norms, identity, and conception of the universe).  Studying the "intangible culture" of the people in question (as Unesco calls it), whether contemporary or historical, will allow you this meaningful, intimate knowledge.  I'd take as many history classes as you can in high school since the study, as a social science, utilizes the same mindset as Anthropolgy.  Take some science classes, especially Biology and Chemistry, because some colleges and universities may require you to take some Biological Anthropolgy courses for the major.  In regards to college, why not double major in both History and Anthro?  You'll figure it out there.  I'm a junior in Undergraduate and changed my major twice while adding another.  Don't worry too much about that.  University of Chicago has one of the highest reputations for the social sciences, but very hard to get into.  Since it seems you have many interests, a liberal arts college may suit you, as it did me.  I was about to enter conservatory for Piano Performance and Music Composition when I changed my mind.  Now, I'm majoring in Archaeology (with an Anthropology focus) and German literature, while studying everything from French to Eastern European folklore (on top of music :) ).  Check out the faculty profiles of the Anthropology and History departments individually.  Don't go to any colleges where the professors have few articles published or skim departments.  In the meantime read some Anthro books!  Here are some recommendations: Islam Obscured by Varisco (a new take on Islamic cultures by an anthropologist) and American Fundamentalism by Marsden (an historical study of the movement which reflects how the modern day movement is an amalgam of all events past, an interesting observation of cultural change--one of the most important components of History and Anthro).  Read some and take some Philosophy classes, too.  You'll find that profesors will subversively sneak in their curriculum philosophical ideas that are en vogue in academic discourse across disciplines (ex. Anthro professors will stress the idea of cultural relativism, an important part in Post-Modern philosophy).  Sorry for being a windbag!  Hope I helped!