Intro to Cultural Anthropology

Welcome

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you didn't speak the language or misunderstood what someone said to you? Have you ever misread someone's body language or intentions?

In 2001 I moved to Japan with no language skills and very little understanding of Japanese culture. Talk about culture shock! My first few weeks in the country, I struggled to figure out what was going on around me.

Luckily I wasn't completely clueless as most of the train stations had at least a little bit of English language signage

At places like the grocery store, I didn't need to read or understand the language because food is basically food - so I was able to eat.

However, I did end up washing my clothes in fabric softener because I couldn't read the packaging.

But even as I learned to speak Japanese, I realized I needed more than just language skills to communicate. I also needed to understand the cultural relevance of situations.

Communication is more than language - it involves an array of non-verbal gestures, facial expressions, and subtle nuances that are entirely cultural.

Culture is defined as “A system of knowledge, beliefs, patterns of behavior, artifacts, and institutions that are created, learned, shared, and contested by a group of people. Culture is our manual for understanding and interacting with the people and the world around us” (Guest, 2017, p. 35).

Guest, K. J. (2017). Cultural anthropology: A toolkit for a global age (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

As we move through the next 8 weeks we will explore cultural anthropology, which is defined as “The study of people’s communities, behaviors, beliefs, and institutions, including how people make meaning as they live, work, and play together” (Guest, 2017, p. 16).

Guest, K. J. (2017). Cultural anthropology: A toolkit for a global age (2nd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

As your instructor, my goal is for you to walk away from this course with a deeper understanding of culture. And as we explore different aspects of the human experience through an anthropological lens, you will be able to apply what you learn to your professional, academic, and personal life.

If I had known then, what I know now about culture, my first few months in Japan would have been very different. My interest in anthropology emerged when I lived in Japan so I often refer to my experience there in class.

For the best learning experience please be sure to read the syllabus and familiarize yourself with our online course site. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. I’m looking forward to working with you this semester.