Abstract This paper addresses the history and the events of the Salem Witch Trials from the perspective of SemioticAnthropology. Here, the question of the witchcraft trials is examined as a form of social control for a people, specifically women, who had no other element of control.
Tags: ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY (ANCIENT HISTORY) / RESEARCH (METHODS, THEORIES), discussion semioticanthropology
Abstract This paper discusses the different aspects of medical anthropology. The underlying theories of medical anthropology are discussed as well as the concept of health and disease, taking into consideration different culture-based paradigms depicting each one. Disease profiles of the different civilizations, from foraging nomads to empires are compared and contrasted.
From the Paper "Though giving birth occurs naturally in women, the experience itself varies among women due to the great influence of cultural beliefs and the resources available within different societies. Depending on how a society values or perceives childbirth as a medical event, the process will differ according to who conducts it (e.g. physician versus community midwife), how it is conducted (e.g. through a cesarean operation or spontaneous, natural birth) and where it occurs (e.g. whether it is in a modern and well-equipped obstetric facility or at home)."
Abstract This paper discusses the building and putting together of a new museum housing an anthropological collection in the state of Georgia. The author examines how to build the museum, what type of museum it should be and how to balance the research and exhibit goals of the museum. The paper relates issues of collections, funding, staffing, museum design and layout.
From the Paper "The purpose of anthropology is to study the origin behavior as well as the physical, social and cultural development of humans throughout history and in different cultures. This study can take the form of fieldwork academic study research as well."
Abstract This paper examines three specific sociological theories. The author contrast each theory. The paper demonstrates their impact on the field of historical anthropology.
From the Paper "Some critics of the field of historical anthropology have accused the field and its practitioners of being generally if not entire theoretical. In other words, the charge leveled against the field is that much of its work and research tends to proceed without the benefit of a specific theoretical lens or framework within which a particular subject event or individual group is analyzed. Many social scientists argue that theoretical underpinning for any investigation is analysis allows the researcher to assess results with respect to ..."
Tags:anthropology, globalization, culture, Iraq war
Abstract This paper reviews two works by Mary Douglas and Victor Turner on the matters of ritual and anthropology (article sources are not named and are not included). The paper briefly explores issues of taboo behavior in scriptures and rituals, and concludes that the process of studying such scriptures and rituals is difficult because of the inter-connectivity found between them and their respective host societies.
From the Paper "It is commonly accepted that many religious scriptures help convey social and communal codes. Dietary habits are a good example of this, where certain cultures avoided the ingestion of pork on the grounds that it was prohibited by their faith, but also that avoidance helped reduce the possibilities of disease. However, the authors promote the concept that there are multiple ways to understand adherence to certain scriptures and codes as presented in the religious texts. The concept of what is dirty, soiled, or sinful, for example, can be interpreted on one level as helping practitioners avoid lifestyle traits that were unhealthy. Yet this can be interpreted on a second level as well, where the avoidance of dirt was more of a symbolic avoidance of impurities."
Abstract This paper looks at psychological anthropology through many methods. It looks at the definition itself, how older and contemporary psychological anthropologists analyze their own work, and how personality and culture intermix. The paper looks closely at a few specific sub-categories, such as Freud, madness, and primitive cultures. The paper analyzes it in connection to personality, culture, emotion, madness and primitive cultures.
From the Paper " Psychological Anthropology: A Universal Process Psychological anthropology is an attempt to discover the dynamics of group differences, often via means of close observation and study of a particular theme or culture. It combines the attributes of psychology and anthropology in an endeavor detect similarities between human beings in personal, social and cultural settings. Many scholars have defined their field using distinct nuances, as cater to their brand of craft, but underlying all psychological anthropology is a cultural analysis that aims to discover inherent qualities within us all. Bourguignon (1979), a psychological anthropologist, spent time analyzing the link between classic anthropology--in which scholars studied primitive cultures--and elements of psychology, such as Freud's psychoanalysis of the psychology of childhood development--or the issues of childhood projecting into adulthood."
Abstract This paper discusses how sociocultural anthropology has not seen significant theoretical changes in the last few decades. It explains that poststructuralist and postmodern theoretical approaches are providing researchers, both in the archives and in the field, new methodologies and resources with which to work. The author mentions that some of the techniques might seem relatively staid and traditional, however, the new focus on these methods has given them a new critical light and allowed anthropologists to interpret and reinterpret their work and the methods that they employ.
From the Paper "The influence of postmodern critical approaches to academic disciplines has not left sociocultural anthropology unscathed. While sociocultural anthropology has not seen significant theoretical changes in the last few decades, poststructuralist and postmodern theoretical approaches are providing researchers both in the archives and in the field new methodologies and resources with which to work. Some of the techniques might seem relatively staid and traditional; however, the new focus on these methods has given them a new critical light and allowed anthropologists to interpret and reinterpret their work and the methods that they employ. One of the most interesting methods that has become popular in recent years in sociocultural anthropology is the life history. The new importance of life histories has stressed the ways in which postmodernism has imbued the social sciences with a fresh look at the way in which human agency interacts with cultural institutions ..."
Abstract This paper examines a body of coursework for a class in organizational anthropology. Twenty-five sources are included. Of these, each is examined briefly and a justification provided for its usefulness to the course. The paper also weighs in on the subject areas discussed, the tension between theory and practice, as well as the difference in definitions of the word culture.
From the Paper "Abram, 2001: I would not retain this article for future incarnations of this course. Though intriguing, the study itself was too pointed in my analysis. Demonstrating the tension between the "politics of policy-making and the technical competencies of 'experts', such as professional planners" did not provide much useful broad applicability (Abram, 2001: 184). This is a good example of organizational ethnography, but not necessarily a useful one. Aguilera, 1996: This article would be retained. It provides readers with an excellent sense of how anthropology can be employed to highlight processes within the business world and assess potential zones of improvement. Aguilera (1996) shows how anthropology can transcend theory and move into business intervention."
Abstract This paper discusses the topic of medical anthropology based on the folk sector. The paper reviews rites of passage, culturally based views on mental illness and treatment, as well as culturally based diseases and their treatments.
From the Paper "The profession of medical anthropology has been around as long as mankind, but according to Janzen was initiated in the 1950's and gradually gained popularity and momentum in the 1960s and 1970s. The American Anthropological Association's journal, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, defines medical anthropology as a field of medicine which: Include[s] all inquiries into health, disease, illness, and sickness in human individuals and populations that are undertaken from the holistic and cross-cultural perspective distinctive of anthropology as a discipline--that is, with an awareness of species' biological, cultural, linguistic, and historical uniformity and variation. "
Abstract This paper essay examines how the study of the sign and semiotic theory may be applied to mass media texts and, in particular, to television. The paper argues that, while there exist two distinct textual forms in television media - advertising and programming - a semiotic analysis reveals the ways in which these forms structurally reinforce each other in creating a semiotics of consumption for the mass media audience. The paper explains that the particular signs, signifiers and referents may change over time as television mythologies evolve, but a constant through this entire evolutionary process has been the "language of consumption". The paper looks at how semiotics allows us to understand how the medium of television operates in our collective consciousness.
Outline;
Introduction
The Sign and its Field of Study
Television and Semiotics Television and the Culture of Consumption
Conclusion
From the Paper "Given the prominence of mass media in our society, it is perhaps not surprising that semiotics should have focused considerable attention upon the most dominant of these media: television. The field of media semiotics, as pioneered by French semiotician Roland Barthes, has focused particular attention upon the production of meaning in the area of pop culture in which television assumes obvious prominence (Danesi 240). Barthes argues that the "semiotic method" takes the form of two investigative processes:
- the study of the historical (and thus highly connotative) origin of meaning systems;
- unraveling the nature of signification in human activities, whether it manifests itself as a word, a novel, a TV program, or some other human artifact."
Abstract A semiotic analysis on the importance of the three series Myst by Cryan Software. Investigating the semiotic values of the game, the user interaction and its adaptability from society's culture, its seemingly self-created genre and its subversive game playing presence.
From the Paper "The three games that are being analysed are Myst, Riven by Cryan Inc and Myst III: Exile by UbiSoft. Myst is a first person point and click, interactive role playing game. The game is set in a sequential world; the story unfolds through worlds created in books, set on a surrealistic island. Essentially the world of Myst is purely a world of books, an index to passing time between chronicle ages, a reference to what exists within the pages of this referenced work. Myst has tried, quite successfully, to immerse the user into a digital interactive environment. Metaphorically like a reader engrossed in a good mystery novel, the user is in engrossed into a digital diversity interactive world."
Abstract The paper discusses the subject of "semiotics" and explains that it is the study of signs involving words, sounds, and body language or mannerisms and involves the examination of the roles that signs play as components to social life. The paper states that semiotics investigates the nature of signs and the underlying laws that may govern them. The paper then applies semiotics to the study of the film "Donnie Darko", explaining that a semiotic analysis of certain components of this film could focus in on particular characters, relationships, or sequences of events.
From the Paper "Donnie's relationship with Gretchen in the film is very simple and straight forward. This relationship grounds Donnie in the conventional reality, and provides balance between the parallel universes he is able to tap into. Balance between good and evil, dark and light is symbolized through out the film through sequences of events. Examples of these sequences are when Donnie's teacher fight for creative freedom (good) results in her termination by the school (evil), and when Donnie's act of vandalism involving burning down the motivational speaker's house (evil) results in the discovery of the child pornography ring. "
Abstract This paper contends that the primary discussion of communication in any management theory involves power. One of the most theoretical tools to determine this is semiotics. The study of signs, signifiers, and the signified, semiotics intertwines with color theory to produce two colors that symbolize power more than any others, red and yellow. The paper explains that, by establishing that colors can be viewed as signs, signifieds, and signifiers, humanity has been opened up to the interpretation of colors. By examining the tendencies, histories, and general uses and interpretations of all of the colors of the spectrum, this paper determines that red and yellow are by far the most powerful colors of the spectrum.
From the Paper "In semiotics, textual analysis reaches its peak. Authorial intent in all communication is distinguished from the communication itself, and the communication is asked to stand alone. For instance, as Chandler writes, a text can exist in any medium, whether verbal or non-verbal, and once it has been recorded, it is devoid of any intent infused in it by the "author." For our purposes, the colorer applies color to her painting, presentation, graphics module or sculpture, and she may have intended that color to symbolize either power or lack thereof, or specifically a certain type of power, but her designs over her designs simply matter not. Instead, our own interpretations of her work, our own decisions and inferences regarding her choices of colors are the true indicators of power or a particular type of power in the work."
Abstract This paper quotes two of Umberto Ecos' non-fiction works on semiotics and his well-known fiction work, "In the Name of the Rose," as a reference to his use of semiotics as metaphorical and pluralistic tools. The paper includes quotes from both the fiction and non-fiction works. The paper uses one book by Christina La Rocca as an extra historic reference with regards to monastic life and miscellaneous facts about medieval Italy.
From the Paper "A common theme in literature and a universal, human obsession is the thin line that exists between honesty and deception, illusion and truth. There is a certain author who is noted for his fiction and non-fiction work on the subject, Umberto Eco. He often uses artistic examples, such as art and literature, to explain and discuss how we use words, mannerisms and other signals as a culture to communicate. According to Eco, the concepts of honesty and fallacy are much more multifaceted then simply being truthful or telling a lie. They are also social constructs that influence our language, behavior and other means of communication."
Abstract This paper interprets the unique culture of Kensington Market as a semiotic text of a cultural mosaic through the reading and exploration of the meaning of commerce. The paper describes how from suckling pig to blood oranges to vintage clothing, "The Market" as it's fondly known to locals, can be read through the commerce found in this four-block area. The paper explains that commerce in this location signifies traditions, ethnicity, customs, mores, sustenance, community and the signs can be indexed accordingly.
From the Paper "Kensington Market is known throughout the city and is a tourist destination for those who are interested in immersing themselves in the culture of bohemian life. It is also a destination and experience for those who prefer to spend a Saturday morning shopping for their groceries in the open-air market, small shops and from street vendors. This essay will interpret the unique culture of Kensington Market as a semiotic text of a cultural mosaic through the reading and exploration of the meaning of commerce."
