tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post1874673964089785451..comments2023-06-28T05:16:54.842-04:00Comments on anthropologies: Introduction: A sense of purposeRyan Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18008425994341539639noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-7693464290544614052011-12-03T08:24:08.706-05:002011-12-03T08:24:08.706-05:00I have been a student and a teacher of science all...I have been a student and a teacher of science all my life and, at the age of 41,attempting to understand the fuzzy, extremely complex world of human interactions and their consequences. I'm reminded of what Chomsky said about human affairs and quote him here; "Science talks about very simple things, and asks hard questions about them. As soon as things become too complex, science can’t deal with them. Science studies what’s at the edge of understanding, and what’s at the edge of understanding is usually fairly simple. And it rarely reaches human affairs. Human affairs are way too complicated. In fact even understanding insects is an extremely complicated problem in the sciences. So the actual sciences tell us virtually nothing about human affairs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626209489631029302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-28939837040956567792011-11-02T19:43:31.659-04:002011-11-02T19:43:31.659-04:00I am starting postgraduate anthro next year (in so...I am starting postgraduate anthro next year (in southern hemisphere school year begins in february) and I trying to answer the exact same question you ask, 'what is the point of anthropology'. In my undergraduate classes some of my main critism was 'and the point of this research was what?' or 'what drug was that theorist on?'. I want to do anthropology for the same reason as the guy who wrote the book you read, to document and give voice to those without it, or to at least make some kind of contribution to the REAL world. I don't know what theory that falls under (applied anthro?)catherinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-17873010184833654552011-10-07T01:21:00.564-04:002011-10-07T01:21:00.564-04:00@Anon archaeologist:
First, thanks for your comme...@Anon archaeologist:<br /><br />First, thanks for your comment. I think we definitely share some common ground.<br /><br />"I guess what I’m really trying to get at is whether this is all just rhetoric or if we really mean to develop real plans/strategies to do something. This is not a critique, but more of a reflection I have had about my own thoughts on the matter."<br /><br />These are good questions--and I think I know where you're coming from with this. What are we *really* doing with all this anthropology stuff, and what are we really planning on doing with it. Writing more books and talking to ourselves? More rhetoric? I am right there with you anon, and I definitely think that what we're doing has to move beyond rhetoric, internal conversations, etc (even if that's not exactly going to get us "tenure"). I think there's a lot that can be done with anthropology. Why? Because the insights that I have gained from reading anthropology (among other things) has definitely been meaning for me, and made me rethink the world around me. Thanks again for your comments and thoughts about this--and for the thoughtful questions.Ryan Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18008425994341539639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-53863076485732229532011-10-06T01:10:31.368-04:002011-10-06T01:10:31.368-04:00As an archaeologist who studies culture contact in...As an archaeologist who studies culture contact in colonial eastern North America, I couldn’t agree with you more, Ryan. Like modern immigrants, the experiences and agency (for lack of a better word) of Native Americans had at contact are largely ignored in public education and other forums. I would point a finger at the important role history plays in shaping national identity. Just as structures exist to exclude the experiences of modern immigrants from everyday conversations, there also exist structures to keep Native Americans in their (historical) place in the national consciousness. But I think a deeper, more penetrating issue is a stake here. The “hidden histories” and stereotypes that we complain about as anthropologist keep the exploited, oppressed, and dominated peoples in their place. Even though this fact may not be explicitly recognized outside of academic circles, I think people implicitly understand it and this is why people awkwardly shy away from it in public settings. Recognition of the reality of immigrant workers or the role of Native Americans in the development of the U.S. would undermine the beliefs that justify the inequality, racism, and (fill in the blank) that persist. This is probably obvious to the three people that might read this. The real question is why/how we think we should be able to change people’s minds if they know (implicitly/explicitly) it means undermining their own (place in the) political economy? I guess what I’m really trying to get at is whether this is all just rhetoric or if we really mean to develop real plans/strategies to do something. This is not a critique, but more of a reflection I have had about my own thoughts on the matter. I wrote this yesterday before there were any comments. Perhaps I have missed the point and need to learn how to write books...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-79499494377393181942011-10-05T12:43:38.154-04:002011-10-05T12:43:38.154-04:00Thanks for your comment Roman! And thanks for dro...Thanks for your comment Roman! And thanks for dropping by and checking out the site. We are definitely in agreement about the power that books can have. Definitely!Ryan Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18008425994341539639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813702045456690661.post-59681516861092728432011-10-03T06:48:41.052-04:002011-10-03T06:48:41.052-04:00Thank you for an intriguing introduction. I fully ...Thank you for an intriguing introduction. I fully agree with your idea that some books can turn a person into anthropologist and substantially expand one`s view of the world. Ii is my first acquaintance with your project and I will certainly become its admirer.<br /><br />Roman (Russia)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com