The impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) on Anthropology
The rise of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) have caused a seismic shift in the study of kinship in anthropology.
Anthropology Explainers
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It is a unique academic discipline in that it considers humans from a holistic perspective. This means that it considers all aspects of human life, including physical, cultural, and social dimensions. It is also multi-disciplinary, meaning that it draws on knowledge from a variety of different fields, including archaeology, linguistics, and sociology.
In this series of essays, we will explore some of the most fundamental concepts in anthropology. We will discuss topics such as culture, evolution, language, and religion. These essays are aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating field!
Compare the operations and implications of Bridewealth and Dowry
The raison d’etre for the existence of the marriage payments, and the underlying assumptions about the value of women differ considerably in societies where bridewealth payments are made upon marriage, as opposed to those where a dowry payment is the custom.
The Hijab as an act of Resistance
Many Muslim women are putting up a spirited resistance against those who attempt to impose upon them. The hijab thus becomes a strong political statement of resistance, by which Muslim women assert their existence and their identity.
Hospitality as a discourse for managing the inclusion of migrants within Southern European States and societies
While uttering empty rhetoric of hospitality designed to indicate that the country is meeting its moral obligations, the State turns a blind eye to the abuse of migrants who have been put with their backs against the wall, afraid of the repercussions should they complain about the situation they find themselves in, or the fact that their rights, as defined by international humanitarian laws, are being trampled upon.
Dance as Ritual – an anthropological perspective
Incorporating synchronised movement and dance in ritual makes it even more powerful in generating strong community ties.
How Residence Customs After Marriage Vary Around the World
In many traditional cultures, a newly married couple’s residence is dictated by customs that may have been in place for generations.
Hasidic Jews – the origins and growth of Hasidism
It has now been over 250 years since the Ba’al Shem Tov sowed the seeds of what has become today a vibrant Hasidic community. What began in a small, impoverished village in the Ukraine has now become an integral part of the ultra-Orthodox community, numbering 1.175M members
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus – the earliest ‘socialists’ in recorded history
Tiberius & his younger brother Gaius Gracchus have gone down in history for their reforms to help the poor in the Roman Empire.
Claude Lévi-Strauss’s Structuralism and its Influence on Anthropological Thought
Claude Lévi-Strauss is considered the father of structural anthropology, a field which combines the methods and theories of anthropology with those of linguistics and psychoanalysis. His book Structuralism and Ecology is a seminal work in the development of this school of thought.
Clifford Geertz and the Thick Description of the Balinese Cockfight
The essay “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight” in the book The Interpretation of Cultures is an excellent example of how an ethnographer can use thick description to bring the vibrancy and significance of a social activity to life.
