AIR 320 · CSE 2024 · ANT1 · 53 pages

Amit Meena: ANT1 answer copy

20 answers by Amit Meena, as written in the test.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Harold Conklin and Ethnoscience10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Weberian perspective of social stratification10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Q.1 (c) Applied Biological Anthropology10 marks
  4. Q1(d)Formalist and Substantivist debate10 marks
  5. Q1(e)Superorganic view of culture10 marks
  6. Q2(a)Do you agree with the view that family is a 'universal association'? Using suitable case examples, critically examine the above statement.20 marks
  7. Q2(b)How does Julian Steward's concept of cultural ecology enhance our understanding of human-environment interactions?15 marks
  8. Q2(c)Define the concept of Basic Personality Structure and discuss its relevance in contemporary anthropology.15 marks
  9. Q4(a)How do you relate the concepts of 'Sacred' and 'Profane' in Durkheim's theory of Religion with a focus on the role of Totem?20 marks
  10. Q4(b)How does Marvin Harris explain food taboos and preferences across different cultures.15 marks
  11. Q4(c)Describe the structural features of social life as suggested by Radcliffe Brown in his theory of social structure.15 marks
  12. Q5(a)Linguistic Relativity as a research tool10 marks
  13. Q5(b)Michel Foucault and the concept of Biopower10 marks
  14. Q5(c)Pierre Bourdieu and Cultural Capital10 marks
  15. Q5(d)Q.5 (d) Language and ideology10 marks
  16. Q5(e)Anthropology grew out of the intersection of European discovery, colonialism, and natural science. Elaborate.10 marks
  17. Q7(c)Discuss the nature of Law and Justice in simple societies citing suitable examples.15 marks
  18. Q8(a)How do Descent and Alliance theories differ in their approach to understanding kinship systems in anthropology?20 marks
  19. Q8(b)How do development anthropology and the anthropology of development differ in terms of their focus and approach.15 marks
  20. Q8(c)Discuss the contribution of Franz Boas and his followers on nature-nurture debate.15 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 165 words written

Harold Conklin and Ethnoscience

Opening · a definition

None written.

Body · points

Harold Conklin, a pioneering figure in cognitive Anthropology, significantly contributed to our understanding of how cultural knowledge is structured and organised in human mind.

→ Approach → focuses on ways people perceive, categorise and organise their knowledge, emphasising importance of language and cultural context.

Ethnoscience → approach to understand how indigenous people classify & conceptualise their natural & cultural environment.

→ branch of cognitive Anthropology that focuses on indigenous systems of knowledge. → using linguistic relativity, lexicographic analysis & participant observation.

Study

→ Hanunoo people

① Ethnobotany → documented various vegetation, demonstrating sophistication of indigenous knowledge.

② Ethnozoology → classify animals based on habitat, behaviour, relation.

③ Hanunoo colour categories (1955) → based on the socio-environmental needs the language develops.

④ Complex kinship systems having specific kinship terminology.

⑤ Ethnoecology → how culture perceives and interacts with environment.

Critic → ① McGee says it couldn't be generalised.

② lead to Romanticisation.

Close · a summary

This approach shaped the way for better understanding relation between language, thought and culture.