Students
Author Video
What is cultural anthropology? Are there practical benefits from studying it? What are the career opportunities in the field after college? These are common questions from students considering taking an anthropology course. Author Jack David Eller provides answers and explains how the latest edition of his textbook has been updated to provide an exceptionally clear and readable introduction to the subject.
Audio Introductions
Study Guides
Download All (ZIP 139KB)Glossary Flashcards
Web Links
Download All (ZIP 138KB)Chapter 1
American Anthropological Association
Home site for the premier anthropological organization in the United States.
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
Home site for the premier anthropological organization in the United Kingdom.
The Society for Applied Anthropology
Site of an organization dedicated “to promote the integration of anthropological perspectives and methods in solving human problems throughout the world; to advocate for fair and just public policy based upon sound research; to promote public recognition of anthropology as a profession; and to support the continuing professionalization of the field.”
The National Association for the Practice of Anthropology
Website of an organization designed to “promote the practice of anthropology, both within the discipline and among private and public organizations” in such areas as public health, organization and community development, information technology systems, housing, social justice, law, media, marketing, environmental management, and the arts.
Future Skills 2020 (Apollo Research Institute)
A report on the skills that all workers will need in the coming decade, many of which are highly relevant to, and strongly promoted by, cultural anthropology.
The World Factbook (CIA)
Site of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, cataloging many kinds of information on states (countries) around the world; updated annually.
Anthropology
A site provided by CyberPursuits on the basic principles of anthropology, with links to specific topics including cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, linguistics, ethnomusicology, and other subdisciplines.
Ethnoscience, Inc.
Home site of a company practicing “professional cultural resources management.”
“Anthropology: Worst Major for Corporate Tool, Best Major to Change Your Life”
A post by Jason Antrosio, arguing passionately for the value of anthropology as a force “for changing your life—and changing the world.”
Chapter 2
Culture
A site from Anthrobase discussing the history and contemporary meaning of the concept of “culture,” with links to discussions of other relevant terms.
Culture tutorial
A site created by Dennis O’Neil of Palomar College (California), with study materials and flashcards on culture; other anthropological topics are also available.
“Backpacker Culture: Meaning and Identity Making Processes in the Backpacker Culture among Backpackers in Central America”
An essay by Christina Anderskov, offering an interesting example of culture and anthropological research applied to a familiar cultural practice—backpacking in remote countries.
Culture Matters: Applying Anthropology
A site from Macquarie University in Australia, dedicated to practical applications of anthropological knowledge, covering many topics such as health, cultural rights, education, gender, globalization, technology, and more.
Biological Anthropology tutorials
Tutorials and study materials on the subject of physical anthropology.
TalkOrigins.org—Exploring Human Evolution
A scientific website focusing on the evidence for evolution and the popular debates on evolution.
Enclosure, Area Studies, and Virtual Worlds
A blog from “Savage Minds,” a modern-day version of “Notes and Queries in Anthropology,” on how and why anthropology should study online and virtual “places.”
American Anthropological Association Principles of Professional Responsibility
A document stating the position of the premier organization of anthropologists in the U.S. on the question of fieldwork and ethical conduct.
Chapter 3
Introduction to Anthropology: IX. History of Anthropology
A short readable history of anthropology from its ancient and Enlightenment roots through its nineteenth-century sources and its modern founders like Boas and Malinowski.
Nineteenth Century Travel Literature
A database of books, websites, and other resources on the pre-anthropological writings of explorers and travelers.
Resources in the History of Anthropology
A site with links to information on timelines of anthropology, particular theories, and national anthropologies of countries like China, Russia, India, and others.
Cultural Anthropology/History of Anthropological Theory
A thorough Wikibooks entry on the early and modern sources and contributors of cultural anthropology.
Theory in Anthropology
A site prepared by Indiana University with information on many major subdisciplines and theoretical schools in anthropology, as well as Brazilian and Caribbean anthropologies.
Anthropological Theories
A site in the “A Guide prepared by Students for Students” from University of Alabama, with discussions of all of the major anthropological theories, including basic premises, key works, leading figures, criticisms, and other resources and websites.
World Council of Anthropological Associations
“The World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA) is a network of national and international associations that aims to promote worldwide communication and cooperation in anthropology. Its primary objectives are: to promote the discipline of anthropology in an international context; to promote cooperation and the sharing of information among world anthropologists; to promote jointly organized events of scientific debate and cooperation in research activities and dissemination of anthropological knowledge.”
Chapter 4
Society for Linguistic Anthropology
Home site of a leading association of linguistic anthropologists, with blogs and links to a thesaurus and other resources.
Linguistic Anthropology
A blog site for linguistic anthropologists, with discussions on many diverse topics.
Languages and Cultures
A valuable resource site with links to sites on specific indigenous languages, academic language departments, journals and organizations, and interesting activities.
Ethnologue, Languages of the World
An encyclopedic reference work cataloging all of the world’s 6,909 known living languages.
Living Tongues: Institute for Endangered Languages
The home site of an organization whose mission is “to promote the documentation, maintenance, preservation, and revitalization of endangered languages worldwide through linguist-aided, community-driven multi-media language documentation projects.”
Foundation for Endangered Languages
“The Foundation for Endangered Languages supports, enables and assists the documentation, protection and promotion of endangered languages. This website announces our varied activities, and includes our newsletter Ogmios and details of our conferences.”
“What is the Anthropology of Writing?”
A chapter by David Barton and Uta Papen, on the anthropological study of written language.
Linguistic Relativity
An article by Lera Boroditsky of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science.
“Linguistic Relativism: Variants and Misconceptions”
A detailed paper by Wouter Beek, surveying the theory and evidence for the impact of language on thought.
“Cross Cultural Communication: A Foreign Language Perspective”
An informative essay by Martin Cortazzi on the many dimensions of linguistic issues—from vocabulary to discourse patterns and cultural presuppositions—that complicate communication between cultures.
Chapter 5
Subdisciplines: Psychological Anthropology
A site on the subject by Kristen Alten of Indiana University, with a general discussion and historical timeline of key figures, as well as a short bibliography.
Society for Psychological Anthropology
“The Society for Psychological Anthropology (SPA) of the American Anthropological Association was founded in 1977. SPA is a broad, multidisciplinary organization of individuals interested in cultural, psychological, and social interrelations at all levels.”
The Foundation for Applied Psychiatric Anthropology
Home page of a professional organization dedicated to the application of anthropology to psychiatry.
Anthropological Theories: Culture and Personality
A page from the collection “Anthropological Theories: A Guide Prepared by Students for Students” from University of Alabama, features key figures and methods, a critique, and a reading list.
Anthropology of Gender (Discover Anthropology)
An online newsletter on the anthropology of gender, with links to other areas of anthropology as well.
Gender Studies: Anthropology
An extensive bibliography of literature on the anthropology of gender.
MIT Open Courseware: Gender, Power, and International Development
Materials for the MIT Open Courseware course on the cross-cultural study of gender and power.
A Map of Gender-Diverse Cultures
An interactive map from the PBS series “Independent Lens,” showing the locations of societies with non-binary gender systems.
Chapter 6
American Anthropological Association Statement on “Race” (1998)
An official document stating the position of the premier American organization of anthropologists on the question of race.
Ethnicity and Race in Anthropology—Franz Boas, Ethnicity, and Contemporary Physical Anthropology: Continuing Tensions, Cultural Fundamentalism and Instrumental Ethnicities
A site summarizing the contributions of Franz Boas and other anthropologists on race and physical anthropology, with links to additional information.
“Biometry and Anthropometry: From Galton to Constitutional Medicine”
An article by Angelo Albrizio from Journal of Anthropological Sciences on the history and contemporary status of anthropometry.
Eugenics and Physical Anthropology
A project on race from AAA, includes a general discussion plus a glossary, teacher guides, and links for additional information.
Race: The Power of an Illusion
The companion site to the American Public Broadcast System (PBS) program on race.
MIT Open Courseware: Race and Science
Materials for the MIT Open Courseware course on race, with notes and readings.
Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives
An extensive discussion of the anthropology of ethnicity, featuring the work of Thomas Hylland Eriksen.
Ethnic identity, national identity and intergroup conflict
A chapter written by Thomas Hylland Eriksen on ethnic groups and conflicts, from Social Identity, Intergroup Conflict, and Conflict Resolution (Oxford University Press, 2001).
African Native Americans: We are Still Here
A site about a photo exhibit on people of mixed African and Native American ancestry.
Chapter 7
Economic Anthropology (Discover Anthropology)
Online resources on economic anthropology, including film recommendations.
Adaptive Strategies: Production
A substantial, illustrated discussion of production systems, inequality, and development across cultures, provided by Wikibooks.
Society for Economic Anthropology
Home site of the Society for Economic Anthropology, “a group of about 300 anthropologists, economists, geographers, and scholars from other disciplines who are interested in the connections between economics and social life. The SEA welcomes new members from all disciplines and all four fields of anthropology.”
Economic Anthropology
A slide show on economic anthropology, “the cross-cultural production of goods and services.”
Economies and their Modes of Production
A PowerPoint presentation on economic anthropology, produced by Palomar Community College District (California): to view, cancel the login pop-up.
Cultural Anthropology/Social Institutions/Subsistence Strategies
An informative site on Wikieducator with material on the four premodern production systems.
Social and Cultural Traits of Foraging Societies
A page from course in Study.com, with a summary description, short video, and quiz on foraging societies.
Anthropology of Corporations Interest Group
The website of the section of the American Anthropological Association interested in investigating how anthropology can study the role and influence of corporations in contemporary society.
Contemporary Research on the Anthropology of Money and Finance
An article by Keith Hart, a leading economic anthropologist, on the anthropological perspective on contemporary practices in money and finance.
Consumption (Anthropology)
A site with comments about the anthropological perspective on consumption, with links to other anthropological topics.
“Consumption”
A 2011 essay by David Graeber, a prominent anthropologist of modern economics, from the journal Current Anthropology.
Chapter 8
Kinship and Social Organization: An Interactive Tutorial
A colorful tutorial on the anthropology of kinship produced by Brian Schwimmer of the University of Manitoba.
A Kinship Glossary: Symbols, Terms, and Concepts
A very extensive list of terms and definitions in the area of kinship relations.
Kinship Units and Groups
A slideshow on the diversity of kinship-based groups across cultures.
Descent Group Functions
A table of several societies and the social functions that descent groups play in those societies.
Systematic Kinship Terminologies
Diagrams and explanations of the six major kinship terminology systems.
Sociocultural Anthropology: Social Groupings
A slide show covering many aspects of corporate group organization including gender, age, class, and other groups, also covering the four premodern political systems discussed in Chapter 9.
“Anthropology and the Riddles of Age”
An essay by Christine Fry on the evolving field of the anthropology of age groups and categories.
“Youth”
A virtual issue of the journal Cultural Anthropology, featuring several articles about youth culture around the world.
Anthropology of Friendship
A short encyclopedia entry on the anthropology of friendship from International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Chapter 9
Political Anthropology
A series of pages/slides from University of Manitoba on political systems, with details and examples.
Political Anthropology
A summary of the history and contributions of political anthropology.
Association for Political and Legal Anthropology
Home site of The Association for Political and Legal Anthropology (APLA), a section of the American Anthropological Association (AAA). Its members share interests in issues of contemporary importance in the fields of political and legal anthropology, including nationalism, citizenship, political and legal processes, the state, civil society, colonialism and post-colonial public spheres, multiculturalism, globalism, immigration, refugees, and media politics.”
“Legibility and Control: Themes in the Work of James C. Scott”
An essay by Kevin A. Carson on the key ideas about anthropology and the state of James Scott.
Engaging with the World
A site maintained by Thomas Hylland Eriksen, a leading anthropologist on politics and ethnicity.
Worldwide NGO Directory
A site helping to start and connect non-governmental organizations, featuring a directory listing of NGOs and many valuable links to resources and documents.
Anthropology of War and Peace (MIT Open Courseware)
A course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the anthropology of war.
Chapter 10
Anthropology of Religion
A tutorial on the anthropology of religion, created by Dennis O’Neil for Palomar College, California.
Society for the Anthropology of Religion
A resource with dozens of links to topics in the anthropology of religion, including academic organizations, museums and foundations, folklore, archaeology and religion, world religions, discussion groups, and journals.
Web Jump Station for the Anthropology of Religion
A resource from the University of Alabama featuring links to various topics, mostly on major world religions, but also on myth, magic and witchcraft, voodoo, pilgrimage, and Halloween.
“A Field Statement on the Anthropology of Religion”
A short essay written in 1990 by John K. Nelson on the anthropological study of religion, with an extensive bibliography of important anthropological writings.
“Whither and Whence the Anthropology of Christianity?"
A paper by Brian Howell assessing the state and prospects of the anthropology of Christianity.
“Second Thoughts about the Anthropology of Islam, or How to Make Sense of Grand Schemes in Everyday Life”
An essay by Samuli Schielke on how and how not to do an anthropology of Islam.
Religious Studies Links and General Resources
A page provided by Academicinfo, with links to general and specialized sites like the Virtual Religion Index and The World of the Yoruba; also connects to research institutions, academic collections, and sites concerning controversial issues like same-sex marriage.
Adherents.com
One of the premier sites in the world for information on religions, includes almost 44,000 records on over 4,000 religious groups.
Internet Sacred Text Archive
A major collection of books and other documents on religion, mythology, folklore, and the esoteric, including some old and hard-to-find titles. Archive is also available on CD-ROM.
Religious Tolerance
From the Ontario (Canada) Consultants on Religious Tolerance, a major resource on religion and religious issues in the modern world, aiming to promote understand of and between religions.
Chapter 11
Culture Change
A tutorial from Palomar College in California, it includes discussion of key terms, flash cards, a glossary, and links to related sites.
Culture Change
A page from “Anthropology for Beginners” with information on history and concepts of culture change.
“Culture Change in China”
A chapter from Godwin Chu and Yanan Ju’s book The Great Wall in Ruins: Communication and Cultural Change in China.
Anthropology in the Global Age
A blog on the changing nature of anthropology in a changing and globalizing world.
“Natural Selection and Cultural Rates of Change”
An article from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” which discusses why cultures change at varying rates.
Diffusionism and Acculturation
From the website “Anthropological Theories: A Guide Prepared by Students for Students” out of the University of Alabama, discusses the history of anthropological thinking on acculturation and diffusion, with major theorists like Boas and Kroeber, plus a bibliography.
Acculturation
Provides a definition and typology of acculturation, as well as links to other related topics like colonialism, cultural assimilation, ethnocide, syncretism, and westernization.
“American Indian Boarding Schools: An Exploration of Global Ethnic & Cultural Cleansing”
A powerful curriculum guide written by Amy Lonetree and provided by the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways on the destructive experience of boarding schools on Native Americans.
“Introduction: Genocide and Anthropology”
An essay by Alexander Laban Hinton on the anthropological study of genocide.
“Theory and Experiment in the Study of Technological Change”
A classic article from Current Anthropology by Michael Schiffer and James Skibo on the anthropological study of technological change, with several commentaries by other anthropologists.
“Technical Innovation and Political Invention: Making Media Technologies in Hungary”
A short essay by Tom Wormald applying anthropological concepts to innovations of media in contemporary Hungary.
Chapter 12
Colonialism
Provides a definition and discussion, types of colonies, a history of pre-modern and modern colonialism, neo-colonialism, and links to specific concepts and examples of colonialism.
Colonialism (Anthropology)
A summary of the anthropological perspective on colonialism.
“The Anthropology of Colonialism: Culture, History, and the Emergence of Western Governmentality”
A review essay on the anthropological study of colonialism, written by Peter Pels.
“Social Anthropology of Colonial and Postcolonial Sub-Saharan Africa: Changing Perspectives on a Changing Scene”
A PowerPoint presentation by Hana Horáková on the colonial experience and practices in Africa.
“Criminality and Colonial Anthropology”
An essay by Vinay Lal discussing how Britain imposed colonial rule on India through the “conquest of knowledge.”
Anthropology: The Conquest of America
A course in MIT’s Open Courseware, includes readings, lecture notes, and other resources.
“Anthropologists and Missionaries: Brothers Under the Skin”
A 1990 article from the journal Man discussing the ambiguous relationship between anthropologists and missionaries.
The British East India Company
The website of the present-day British East India Company.
Chapter 13
Ethnicity and Nationalism
A summary and excerpts from Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives by Thomas Hylland Eriksen.
“Nation and Decolonization”
An article provided by Sage, John D. Kelly and Martha Kaplan “Nation and Decolonization: Toward a New Anthropology of Nationalism” published in Anthropological Theory 2001.
The Nationalism Project
The Nationalism Studies Information Clearinghouse site, dedicated to Benedict Anderson’s notion of the nation as “imagined community,” features excerpts from Anderson’s work as well as a bibliography, book reviews, links, conferences, and other information.
Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies
Site of the journal dedicated to the analysis of diaspora processes and groups in diaspora.
The Indian Diaspora
Site focusing on the diaspora of the people of India.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Home site of the United Nations organization “established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.”
Refugees International
Website of a major international organization that “advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.”
Chapter 14
World Bank
Home site of one of the leading multilateral development institutions in the world, featuring statistics and reports and other valuable information.
International Monetary Fund
Website of a major international organization “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 185 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.”
Directory of Development Organizations
“The directory of development organizations, listing 53,750 development organizations, has been prepared to facilitate international cooperation and knowledge sharing in development work, both among civil society organizations, research institutions, governments and the private sector.”
International Development Research Center Digital Library
“The IDRC Digital Library provides the international research community with access to a current and comprehensive collection of research results and documents generated by IDRC-funded projects, IDRC funding recipients, and IDRC staff about a wide range of subjects related to international development.”
Marketing, Microchips, and McDonalds: Debating Globalization
A course in MIT’s Open Courseware, with downloadable course materials.
Globalization
Central site for articles on the topic of globalization published in Cultural Anthropology, the journal of the Society for Cultural Anthropology (access to articles requires login or participation of a library or institution).
Microfinance Gateway
A comprehensive site of microfinance institutions and policies.
On Neoliberalism
A review essay by Sherry Ortner, discussing Naomi Klein’s The Shock Doctrine, David Harvey’s A Brief History of Neoliberalism, and Charles Ferguson’s film “Inside Job,” featured in the online journal Anthropology of this Century.
Neocolonialism, The Last Stage of Imperialism
A statement by African independence leader Kwame Nkrumah from 1965, who believed that “The essence of neo-colonialism is that the State which is subject to it is, in theory, independent and has all the outward trappings of international sovereignty. In reality its economic system and thus its political policy is directed from outside.”
Neocolonialism: The Recolonization of Africa
A blog with many references and resources on neocolonialism in Africa.
Chapter 15
Center for World Indigenous Studies
A research and education organization dedicated to wider understanding and appreciation of the ideas and knowledge of indigenous peoples and the social, economic and political realities of indigenous nations.
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
“IWGIA's overall goal is to endorse and promote indigenous peoples' right to self-determination, their cultural integrity and their right to development on their own conditions. In order to fulfil this mission, IWGIA works within a wide range of areas: Documentation, publication, human rights, lobbying, advocacy, research and projects. Also provides a free PDF download of The Indigenous World 2009.
The Peoples of the World Foundation
A site promoting “education for and about Indigenous Peoples,” “The subject of our work is photoethnography (also called ethnophotography), and visual anthropology, as opposed to ethnology or general anthropology. There are many resources on the web as well as in libraries and bookstores dealing with ethnology and anthropology. Our aim is not to produce a dissertation on the ethnology or anthropology of any group. Rather the site is a reflection of the time that we, and others, have spent with these peoples as well as a contemporary snapshot of their changing lives.”
World’s Indigenous Peoples
Information, videos, and links for dozens of indigenous groups in the modern world.
Cultural Survival
Website of an organization committed to indigenous groups and rights, founded by David Maybury-Lewis and other anthropologists; also publishes a magazine by the same name.
Survival International
“Survival is the only international organization supporting tribal peoples worldwide. We were founded in 1969 after an article by Norman Lewis in the UK’s Sunday Times highlighted the massacres, land thefts and genocide taking place in Brazilian Amazonia. Like many modern atrocities, the racist oppression of Brazil's Indians took place in the name of ‘economic growth.’”
“In John They Trust”
An article from Smithsonian magazine by Paul Raffaele about the famous “John Frum” cargo cult.
Indigenous Media Action
Indigenous Media Action was founded on August 25th, 2001 to provide strategic media support and action to directly address issues impacting Indigenous communities.
World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network
The World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) is a global alliance which aims to unify television broadcasters worldwide to retain and grow Indigenous languages and cultures.
“Anthropology of Tourism: Forging New Ground for Ecotourism and Other Alternatives”
An essay by Amanda Strong on the anthropology of tourism, published in Annual Review of Anthropology.
Tribal Museums & Cultural Centers
A page from the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, “a national non-profit membership organization of Tribal government officials who implement federal and tribal preservation laws. NATHPO’s overarching purpose is to support the preservation, maintenance and revitalization of the culture and traditions of Native peoples of the United States.”
Chapter 16
Society for Medical Anthropology
The home page of the section of the American Anthropological Association serving anthropologists interested in the field of medicine.
Medical Anthropology Theory
An open-source journal on subjects in medical anthropology.
“Medical Anthropology”
An essay by A. McElroy from the Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology summarizing the history and theories of medical anthropology.
Medical Anthropology Young Scholars
A site in the network of the European Association of Social Anthropologists, with information for newcomers to the field of medical anthropology.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
A journal featuring research articles and reviews on the relation between human cultures and nature, traditional environmental knowledge, and folk medical knowledge systems.
“At the Crossroads of Religion and Medical Anthropology”
A paper by Mark Taylor on the relationship between religion and medicine from an anthropological perspective.
“Anthropology’s Contribution to Public Health Policy Development”
An article by Dave Campbell from McGill Journal of Medicine and archived by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, describing what anthropology has done to advance the interests of public health.
“Mental Illness in Culture, Culture in Mental Illness”
A chapter by Olajide Oloyede on the anthropological understanding of mental illness, with a focus on South Africa.
Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Mental Health: The Major Questions for Future Research in Global Mental Health
A PowerPoint-type presentation in pdf form by the eminent medical anthropologist, Arthur Kleinman, M.D.
Somatosphere
A collaborative website covering the intersections of medical anthropology, science and technology studies, cultural psychiatry, psychology and bioethics.
Medical Anthropology
This journal provides a global forum for scholarly articles on the social patterns of ill-health and disease transmission, and experiences of and knowledge about health, illness and wellbeing.
Anthropology and Medicine
This journal is dedicated to publishing papers that examine medicine, health and illness in an anthropological context. It features interdisciplinary research on the interrelationship between culture and health.
Video Links
Download All (ZIP 218KB)Chapter 1
Video 1. Cultural Anthropology
A talk over a Powerpoint presentation that introduces anthropology and anthropologists; could also be useful—perhaps more useful—for Chapter 15, on globalization, friction between cultures, and education. Speaker mispronounces Durkheim’s first name and Boas’ last name.
Video 2. Doing Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology is a social science that explores how people understand—and act in—the world. But what, exactly, is it that Cultural Anthropologists do? How do they approach their research? In this short film, three members of MIT's Anthropology Department, Stefan Helmreich, Erica James, and Heather Paxson, talk about their current work and the process of doing fieldwork.
Video 3. Major in Anthropology
A video specifically promoting the anthropology major at MacEwan University, it nicely summarizes the four fields of anthropology as well as many of the contemporary and applied aspects of the discipline, as well as career possibilities.
Video 4. Inside Anthropology
A short film about anthropology (filmed at the London Anthropology Day 2006) made by Ed Owles and Cinzia Rocchi, who have both recently completed a Master’s degree in Visual Anthropology.
Video 5. Inside Anthropology
A short video set to music that outlines the basic concepts of anthropology and benefits of studying it. Educator/anthropologist Lauren W. Hasten shows how anthropology can provide students with tools for understanding the world.
Chapter 2
Video 1. Cultural Theory: The Concept of Culture in Modernity
A somewhat sophisticated discussion on the history of the concept of culture in Western thinking, from a college course lecture by Ron Strickland.
Video 2. Anthropological fieldwork in a Gurung village
A short film by Alan Macfarlane about his fieldwork in a Himalayan village.
Video 3. First Contact (BBC4 Anthropology Season) - Part 1 of 6
Adventurous and high-paying tourists are being offered the chance to make "first contact" with some of the world’s last remaining uncontacted tribes. First contact with the outside world usually spells disaster for genuine uncontacted tribes. Presented by Mark Anstice, an experienced expedition leader and author of a book also called First Contact, this film looks at the complex issues surrounding the ethics of first contact and meets the people involved.
Video 4. Laundromat Research
Filmmaker writes, “This is an ethnographic research video I produced in my junior year at Syracuse. It focuses on the Laundromat and how consumers spend their down time while waiting for their laundry as well as innovation opportunities.”
Video 5. Primate Patterns II - PREVIEW
A preview of a Documentary Educational Resources film, “This video compares 3 species of monkey, one prosimian and two types of apes, all living in a zoo setting. These are Japanese macaques, lion tail macaques, mandrills, black lemurs, orangutans and lowland gorillas. Each segment shows several minutes of footage with descriptions of common behavior such as eating, grooming, locomotion, play and social interactions.”
Chapter 3
Video 1. Social Contract Lecture
“This lecture is designed to give you the basics to the three primary social contract theorists [Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau]. Obviously, this is not everything the philosophers believed, but these are the most important concepts.”
Video 2. Franz Boas - The Shackles of Tradition
A full-length film on the life and early research of Franz Boas and its effect on the development of anthropology.
Video 3. Tales From The Jungle: Malinowski - Part 1 of 6
“This film examines the work of Bronislaw Malinowski, often revered as the founding father of modern anthropology. This film returns to the islands to explore Malinowski's story and its legacy.”
Video 4. Introduction to anthropology (3): Origins and History
A major lecture by Alan Macfarlane on the origins of anthropological thinking.
Chapter 4
Video 1. David Crystal - World Englishes
A short video with David Crystal on the diversity of the English language around the world.
Video 2. The Soul of My Culture
A film about the importance of language in Hawaiian identity, culture, and politics, with some interesting discussion of colonialism and language loss.
Video 4. Sámigiella - an Arctic nature language - The Sami language
Produced by Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (www.galdu.org), the film discusses Sami (a northern Scandinavian indigenous society) language and its historical relation to neighboring languages.
Video 5. Gestures across cultures
A segment from a BBC documentary, the clip explores some differences in gesture and body language between cultures.
Chapter 5
Video 1. Theory Part 2 - Culture and Personality
Second part of a lecture on anthropological theory, focusing on culture and personality as well as functionalism.
Video 2. Dr. David Matsumoto discusses culture and personality
“Dr. David Matsumoto discusses the correlation between culture and personality.”
Video 3. Gender, sexuality, society: three self-ethnographies
“Three University of Texas at Austin undergraduate students cross-dress for an anthropology class (‘Anthropology of Body and Technology’) video essay assignment (4 May 2007). ‘When changing your body, what is considered normal and what constitutes marginalization in a society? How are natural facts experienced differently according to gender? How much does an outer appearance reflect an inner self?’”
Video 4. The Women's Kingdom
A trailer for a film produced by Women Make Movies: “Keepers of one of the last matriarchal societies in the world, Mosuo women in a remote area of southwest China live beyond the strictures of mainstream Chinese culture enjoying great freedoms and carrying heavy responsibilities.”
Video 5. Blood Initiation
A segment of a National Geographic film depicting a male initiation ritual in which boys (and later adult men) are made to bleed in order to purge them of the “female” influences of birth, breastfeeding, and physical contact with women.
Video 6. Transgender Basics - Gender Identity Project
“‘Transgender Basics’ is a 20-minute educational film on the concepts of gender and transgender people. Two providers from the Center’s Gender Identity Project (GIP) discuss basic concepts of gender, sexual orientation, identity and gender roles. Three transgender community members share their personal experiences of being trans and genderqueer.”
Chapter 6
Video 1. Race in the 21st Century, Ethnographic Approaches
“John Hartigan of the University of Texas takes an anthropological look at questions such as these by introducing students to the study of race through qualitative approaches. In the first text to take an explicitly ethnographic approach, Hartigan summarizes and explains the current state of social science knowledge on race in the United States.”
Video 2. Famous Landmark Documentary On Racism In A United States Neighborhood
“The Black middle-class Myers family moves into all-white Levittown, PA in August, 1957, and are snubbed and mistreated, in this powerful landmark documentary showcasing racism in the United States. This movie is part of the collection and courtesy of the Academic Film Archive of North America from www.archive.org; Producer: Lee Bobker/Lester Becker.”
Video 3. Race Biology in Sweden
“The history and background of race biology and hygiene in Sweden.”
Video 4. Soviet Race Biology, Part I
“History of Race Hygiene and Eugenics in the USSR, Part 1 of 2.”
Video 5. Ethnicity and Identity Part 1
“As the world becomes smaller and more interconnected, old ways of thinking become less and less suitable. New ways of understanding things must be introduced to adapt to new phenomena; this documentary attempts to do just that. For most people, ethnicity and identity are seen as one thing. However, I theorize that in the future these two concepts will grow further apart and at the same time become vague. This piece serves as a window into the future as well as into my own personal thoughts.”
Video 6. Cosmic Race, Rainbow People, and Other Myths Part 1
First part of a lecture on “Race and Racial Identity in the Latina/o Community.”
Video 7. Race and Racism in Latin America: Brazil
“Brazil is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world. But it too suffers from widespread racial discrimination with black Brazilians often finding themselves at the bottom of the social ladder.”
Video 8. South Africa: The new apartheid (part 1)
First part of a series: “The series began in South Africa where a huge rise in illegal immigration from Zimbabwe and other African states is behind an increase in racism and xenophobic violence. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy journeys from the Zimbabwean border to one of Johannesburg’s most dangerous quarters to investigate.”
Video 9. The Ainu's Tense Relationship with Japan
“October 1994—an insightful report on racial discrimination in Japan. A small boy denies his Ainu ancestry for fear of being bullied in a society where conformity is valued above all else. The Ainu people of the northern island of Hokkaido are despised by the rest of Japan. Different in appearance and language they have suffered more than a century of discrimination.”
Chapter 7
Video 1. Introductory Lectures on Economic Anthropology:1
“The first of four introductory lectures to first year students at Cambridge by Professor Alan Macfarlane in 2006.” A little sophisticated and in-depth for introductory students.
Video 2. First Film
Preview of a film by Documentary Educational Resources: “‘First Film’ was edited and narrated by Lorna Marshall and is comprised of footage shot in 1951 on the second Marshall family expedition to the Kalahari Desert. It is intimate in style, very carefully filmed, with a wealth of practical information about the material culture and structure of the Ju/’hoan (!Kung bushmen) hunter-gatherer society. The film allows viewers to see some of John Marshall’s earliest film footage and provides an interesting comparison with the more sophisticated shooting found in his later work.”
Video 3. Hunting-Gathering/Stateless Societies of Africa
A short film, probably a student project, which discusses an African foraging society.
Video 4. The Nuer
Preview of a film by Documentary Educational Resources: “The Nuer call themselves Naath. Only their immediate neighbors, the Dinka, Shilluk and Arabs, call them Nuer. Most foreigners, which includes those with whom the Nuer neither fought nor traded, are called Bar which means ‘almost entirely cattleless.’ Those foreigners who live even more remotely and include Europeans are called Jur which means ‘entirely cattleless,’ a most unthinkable state indeed.”
Video 5. Rabari Nomads
Pastoralism: “North Indian nomads, with their sheep and camels on their annual wandering in search of grazing.”
Video 6. Horticultural Societies
Pastoralism: “North Indian nomads, with their sheep and camels on their annual wandering in search of grazing.”
Video 7. BAIRA - The Floating Gardens
A short video about a particular form of intensive agriculture, used to adapt to the dampness and flooding of Bangladesh.
Video 8. Sumer, the original civilization
A project about the roots of civilization in intensive agriculture.
Video 9. Stories from the Stone Age
A 15-part series on the origins and cultural consequences of farming—“By the end of the last Ice Age our hunter-gatherer ancestors had survived the cold for 25,000 years, but were now about to change the world. Their Stone Age revolution made our civilization possible and set humanity on the long journey to the modern world.”
Video 10. Potlatch 1
“This video shows scenes of Kwakiutl potlatch.” Film continues in “Potlatch 2”.
Video 11. How American's Eat: an ethnographic segment
An ethnographic film produced by pacific ethnography and shot by Bruno Moynié for Wendy’s International. This edit was shown at the Sorbonne in January of 2007 at the international conference on anthropology and consumption.
Playlist. How American's Eat: an ethnographic segment
A set of 21 short videos on food and culture, covering such issues as obesity, health and fitness, the effects of beef farming, McDonald’s’ impact on China, and cocoa production in Ghana.
Chapter 8
Video 1. Introduction to kinship and marriage
The first of 20 short lectures on kinship, family, and marriage, given by Alan Macfarlane in Cambridge in 1982.
Video 2. Her Name Came on Arrows
Preview of a film on Baruya marriage and kinship: “French anthropologist Maurice Godelier invites five of his Baruya friends and informants to his house to discuss Baruya kinship and rules of marriage. As Godelier poses questions, the kinship rules that provide the cohesive fabric of Baruya culture are brought to life. Abstract terms are given practical meanings as Godelier investigates Baruya customs of stealing wives, exchanging sisters for wives, stealing names and exchanging ‘food for blood.’”
Video 3. Multiple Husbands
“The opposite of polygamy is polyandry, when a woman has multiple husbands. One group of people in the Himalayas practices this lifestyle.”
Video 4. A Look into the World of the Maasai
First 10 minutes of a film on Maasai age sets: “This visually stunning doc takes you deep into the natural and captivating world of the Maasai. There we unravel one of the last ancient tribal rituals of the Maasai Warrior. The narrative follows the Warriors as they prepare to undergo a unique rite of passage that will initiate them into Elderhood. Granted unprecedented access to the three-day ceremony, which occurs once every eight years, the filmmaker gained a rare insight into the world of the Maasai.”
Chapter 9
Video 1. Political anthropology: lecture 1
First of a series of lectures by Alan Macfarlane on the anthropology of political systems.
Video 2. In Afghanistan, U.S. soldiers as Cultural Anthropologists
An interview with Elizabeth Rubin of the New York Times magazine on how soldiers in the war in Afghanistan must practice some of the methods and concepts of anthropology.
Video 3. Blood Feud
A clip from National Geographic: “A blood feud in Albania, a country where taking revenge is a virtual duty.”
Chapter 10
Playlist. anthropology of religion
64 videos for anthropology classes
Playlist. Anthropology of Religion
39 videos
Video 1. Conversations with History - Talal Asad
“‘Thinking About Religion, Secularism and Politics’—Talal Asad, Professor of Anthropology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Talal Asad who reflects on his life and work as an anthropologist focusing on religion, modernity, and the complex relationships between Islam and the West.
Video 2. The Evolution of Religions
The Religious Success Story by Jared Diamond. Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society. What is religion? What are the differences between tribal religions and state religions? When did religions begin? What is the function of religion in societies? Jared Diamond seeks the answers to these questions.
Chapter 11
Video 1. Guns, Germs and Steel Part 1 of 18
First of 18 parts based on Jared Diamond’s famous book on the history of contact and conflict between Western societies and other societies.
Video 2. What Would Alien Anthropologists Think of Us? - Wade Davis
“Wade Davis, author of The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World, criticizes the United States for viewing technological prowess as the only sign of progress. ‘Climate change should finally teach us that we're not the paragon of humanity’s potential,’ he says.”
Video 3. Australian Aboriginal Genocide
A short film, essentially a Powerpoint presentation set to didgeridoo music that chronicles the history of contact between Anglo-Australians and Australian Aboriginals.
Video 4. to kill the Indian in the child
A discussion of the Residential School system in Canada and the forced assimilation of and prejudice against Native peoples in Canada.
Video 6. Rwandan Genocide - Rwanda
A film from Journeyman Pictures: “Special Assignment takes a look at the genocide in Rwanda and where those who were responsible are now.”
Chapter 12
Video 1. European Imperialism
An impressive project created by students detailing the motivations, history, and impact of European colonialism around the world.
Video 2. Colonialism in 10 Minutes: The Scramble For Africa
“An excerpt from the film ‘Uganda Rising’ showing in a (very!) brief overview the utter decimation of Africa that took place via colonialism and the so-called ‘Scramble For Africa’” with a special focus on Uganda.
Video 3. Colonialism in 10 Minutes: The Scramble For Africa
“An excerpt from the film ‘Uganda Rising’ showing in a (very!) brief overview the utter decimation of Africa that took place via colonialism and the so-called ‘Scramble For Africa’” with a special focus on Uganda.
Video 4. American Imperialism timeline - Part 1
First of two parts of an informative but powerful and critical overview of American imperial dealings with Native Americans, Mexico, and other parts of the world.
Video 5. Documentary Iraq a history of colonialism - 1 of 5
Part 1 of 5: “This video documentary, on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, illustrates the West’s history of colonialism in Iraq. Charting the past and present colonial project, it establishes how America has continued the century old policy of controlling the Middle East and securing its energy supplies.”
Vodcast #1. Australian Aboriginal Genocide
First of several segments on concepts, foundations, and history of modern European imperialism. Vodcast #2 focuses on Africa. Vodcast #3 focuses on Muslim lands. Vodcast #4 focuses on India.
Chapter 13
Playlist. Nationalism
Playlist of 100 videos.
Video 1. Indian Independence Movement
“A tribute to Indian Independence movement and its heroes. A journey through the time British set foot in India to 1947 when India got it freedom after a long, excruciating battle.” A visual presentation set to Indian music.
See also “Struggle for Indian Independence” 4:43
Video 2. Ripple effect warning of Kosovo independence. February 2008
“After nine years of UN administration, nine years of uncertainty and fruitless negotiations, Kosovo is poised go its own way with a unilateral declaration of independence. But, in the international arena at least, the debate is not over with heated discussion on the possible ramifications of the breakaway.”
Video 3. Darfur conflict state-sponsored?
An item from Russia Today: “Darfur has been plagued by an intense six-year-long ethnic conflict that has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced two million from their homes, but does the West really know what's going on in Darfur?”
Video 4. Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance Demonstrates at the Hawaii State Capitol
“March 31, 2009. The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance demonstrated at the Hawaii State Capitol after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court which banned the sale of ceded lands.”
Video 5. Welcoming Michel Gabaudan, new President of Refugees International
Michel Gabaudan became president of Refugees International (RI) in September of 2010, leading RI forward in its mission to bring attention and action to refugees and displaced people worldwide.
For more information see: www.refugeesinternational.org/president
Video 6. Video from Darfuri Refugee Camps (Save Darfur)
“David Rubenstein (Executive Director of the Save Darfur Coalition) and actress Mia Farrow traveled to Darfuri refugee camps in Chad to document first hand testimonials from the victims of the ongoing genocide in Darfur.”
Video 7. The Church and The Jews - Early Jewish Diaspora l Lessons of Dr. David Neiman
“In this second excerpt from Dr. David Neiman's lecture series, ‘The Church and The Jews,’ Dr. Neiman discusses the early Jewish diaspora communities that existed before the advent of Christianity.”
Chapter 14
Video 1. Keith Hart - Anthropology and Globalisation- Part 1
First in a series of video-recorded lectures by Keith Hart on globalization from an anthropological perspective.
Video 2. Anthropology Cultural Change
A silent Powerpoint-type presentation that introduces many concepts like economic development, neocolonialism, modernization theory, and “globesity.”
Video 3. Global Economics - Economic Development: A Global Challenge
A film by Journeyman Pictures: “This episode examines the dynamics of economic development. What makes it happen and why do so many countries lag so far behind?”
Video 4. Globalization: The Haves And Have Nots - Trailer
A clip from a 40-minute video by Journeyman Pictures: “The city is besieged by 40,000 labour, environmental and human rights activists, claiming the WTO puts too much emphasis on ‘free’ rather than ‘fair’ trade. Not since the Industrial Revolution has the workplace been so dramatically restructured. Globalization has been a triumph for the corporate giants and for e-commerce. But the explosion of international trade has also meant jeopardising jobs, forcing out local industries and an ever greater impact on the natural world. The scale of the Seattle protests took the world by surprise and was proof for many that it's time to re-examine the global economic machine.”
Video 5. Gobi Forage Project: Herder Alliances
“The GOBI FORAGE project was initiated in 2004 to adapt Livestock Early Warning System (LEWS) technologies developed by the GL-CRSP in east Africa for Mongolia to improve risk management by herders and other stakeholders in the Gobi Region of Mongolia. Herder alliances were developed in collaboration with Mercy Corps Mongolia, based on the US herder alliance model, to enhance pastoral organization, marketing power and efficiency, and livelihoods.”
Video 6. Theories - Development - Unit 5.3
A visual presentation set to rock music that explores many of the concepts and theories of development.
Video 7. Immanuel Wallerstein - Unit of Analysis
“Wallerstein’s unit of analysis is of course the modern world-system—as one of many historical world-systems. And as a historical system which has of course temporary boundaries the main questions to ask about it are: how did it begin, how did/does it function, and how does it end; the answers to these questions imply of course a high degree of historicity, as there are no general answers for all world-systems.”
Video 8. Neo-Liberalism: The Ideology behind Contemporary Globalization
“What is neo-liberalism? Neo-liberalism is a term used to describe a range of policies and an economic philosophy that stresses international free trade, economic liberalism (more commonly referred to as capitalism) and the promotion of such through deregulation of the economy, privatization of industry, liberalization of markets, financialization of national economies and corporatization of the remaining public sector.”
Video 9. Microfinance - Does it really work?
“Governments from Brazil to Bosnia have launched massive microfinance programs, and commercial banks like ABN AMRO, HSBC and Citicorp are rushing down-market, which could increase access to credit for the poor. Some 500 million poor worldwide have reportedly benefited from $6 billion in micro-loans, which supporters want to ramp up to $300 billion. But its critics say there is no solid evidence that microfinance makes a difference, either in developing the economy or reducing poverty.”
Video 10. Grameen Story
One woman’s story of escaping poverty by taking small loans from the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Included in the full-length film “Small Fortunes.”
Chapter 15
Video 1. Cultural Anthropology
A talk over a Powerpoint presentation that introduces anthropology and anthropologists and discusses globalization, “friction” between cultures, and education. Emphasizes the work of Tsing and Hannerz.
Speaker mispronounces Durkheim’s first name and Boas’ last name.
Video 2. Keith Hart - An engaged anthropology for the 21st century - Part 1
First of a multi-part lecture on the history and future of anthropology and how it has contributed and can contribute to a better world.
Video 3. Jerry Mander - Globalization and Indigenous Cultures
“Author and social critic Jerry Mander discusses how the cultural concepts of indigenous peoples endure despite globalization, and speculates on the benefits of adapting these ideas to modern life.” Complete video here.
Video 4. More Than Just Timber - State of the Forest Episode 1
First in a series of short films on environmental and cultural conditions around the world, examining such topics as deforestation, land rights disputes, and climate change.
Video 5. Uncontacted Tribes 1 of 2
Part one of two-part project: “A film produced by Survival International about ‘Uncontacted Tribes’ and their typical fate narrated by Julie Christie.”
Video 6. Paiute Native American Shaman Wovoka and the Ghost Dance
“The Ghost Dance appeared during a time of desperation for the Native American Indian people. The Ghost Dance started when Paiute shaman Jack Wilson or Wovoka had a vision that if our people would dance and sing we Indians would live again. The Ghost Dance spread throughout the land. In Dec. 1890 the military panicked and massacred innocent Lakota Indian people at Wound Knee while they danced. It is one of the worse incidents in United States history. Judy Trejo - Summit Lake (Tommo Agi) and Walker River (Agi) Paiute and Anita Collins - Shoshone and Walker River Paiute speak about Wovoka.”
Video 7. Daniela Cerqui, Cyborg anthropology
“How far is it from Prozac to cyborgs? Daniela Cerqui is a social and cultural anthropologist at the University of Lausanne and explores the edges of ‘posthuman’ society, a society marked by human and computer hybridisation. We talk to her about the definition of ‘normality’ in a technology-centred world, chip implants and the future of human evolution. Daniela Cerqui is also known for following and studying Kevin Warwick’s life as a cyborg from an anthropological point of view.”
Chapter 16
Video 1. Introduction to Medical Anthropology (Part 1)
A short video describing the ideas and practices of medical anthropology.
Video 2. MMA Conversation: Medical Anthropology in Medicine and Nursing Care
A 40-minute discussion of medical anthropology between Dr. Laeth Nasir MD (Chair of Family Medicine and medical anthropology program faculty), Dr. Dianne Travers Gustafson RN PhD (medical anthropology program faculty), and Dr. Laura Heinemann PhD MSW (medical anthropology program faculty).
Video 3. Medical Anthropology in the 21st Century
Webinar with anthropologist Lenore Manderson.
Collection of films. More Than Just Timber - State of the Forest Episode 1
A list of some films relating to medical anthropology.
Collection of films. Royal Anthropological Institute
Details of a number of ethnographic films on medical anthropology.