Cultural Anthropology | Serena Nanda, Richard L. Warms

Cultural Anthropology | Serena Nanda, Richard L. Warms | The World is Flat : Ethnography, Globolization, and Environmental Crisis, etc., etc.

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Cultural Anthropology

	Cultural Anthropology Serena Nanda, Richard L. Warms Wadsworth Publishing, 2006 - 552 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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Build your own awareness of cultures around the world with CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY! Emphasizing the issues of gender, stratification, ethnicity, globalization, and the similarities and differences among all cultures, this anthropology text provides you with the tools you need to succeed. Take advantage of CengageNOW, which saves you time and enhances your performance in the course through Pre-Tests, Personalized Study Plans and Post-Test materials.

Great Cultural text

I can't figure out to which article the previous review is referring. It's a little ridiculous and useless to make such an accusation of bias without mentioning what specific article it is that is so grossly biased and derogatory. I would like to know. I myself alwys prefer Nanda and Warms' text for my class. I've reviewed many many texts and just like their format and content the best. It is clear, well organized, and yes, less materialist oriented. Also the content is much better than most other texts, particularly on the subjects of Gender and Religion.

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The World is Flat : Ethnography, Globolization, and Environmental Crisis, etc., etc.

"Cultural Anthropology, ... informed by a wide array of theoretical perspectives, innovative in form and content, and focused on both traditional and emerging topics. ...that helps shape new directions in the field. In their view, Cultural Anthropology occupies an important niche in what can be thought of as the ecology of anthropological publications, ..." 'Vision Statement'

Cultural anthropology:
According to WIKEPEDIA, Cultural anthropology (the holistic study of humanity) is one of four fields of anthropology as it developed in the United States. It is the branch of anthropology that has developed and promoted "culture" as a meaningful scientific concept; it is also the branch of anthropology that studies cultural variation among humans. Cultural Anthropology continues to provide a forum for experimentation with varied, often interdisciplinary, theoretical frameworks within anthropological projects. Work with critical theories of race, sex, class, feminism, and post-colonialism will continue to be important, and in need of new perspective.

Anthropology and Culture:
The anthropological concept of "culture" reflects in part a reaction against earlier Western discourses based on an opposition between "culture" and "nature", according to which some human beings lived in a "state of nature". Anthropologists argue that culture is "human nature," and that all people have a capacity to classify experiences, encode classifications symbolically, and teach such abstractions to others. Since humans acquire culture through learning (the processes of enculturation and socialization), people living in different places or different circumstances may develop different cultures. Anthropologists have also pointed out that through culture, people can adapt to their environment in non-genetic ways, so people living in different environments will often have different cultures. Much of anthropological theory has originated in an appreciation of and interest in the tension between the local (particular cultures) and the global (a universal human nature, or the web of connections between people in distinct places/circumstances).

Cultural Change:
All cultures are dynamic, no culture was, has been, or is static. All cultures change throughout time and space, but most of them are conservative in that their tendencies to resist change. Since Alexander the great started a global Hellenization especially around the Mediterranean, this was encountered by resistance like in Judea. Some still resist more than others by like non tolerance in dressing or eating habits or education, especially between religion motivated societies. Enacting laws for the preservation and protection of traditional cultural patterns, by limiting national language to one or two, while putting up barriers to alien ideas and things, even reaction to illegal immigration as clear from recent reactions in France, Europe in general, and the USA.

Covered Issues:
The main issues covered by this book, are arranged for a systematic approach to the subject. It starts with Human diversity, and how this is a key in the book agenda to introduce the subject. The idea of culture, language, and learning culture turn to social-economics of making a living, and economic behavior, marriage, family, kinship, and gender, discusses social ranking, and stratification, and concludes in power and control. Cultural identities are surveyed in religion, and the arts. Cultural change is the last main chapter of the book.

Conclusion:
How did anthropology contribute to solving human problems, and the role of anthropologists in public policy wrt legislation and implementation could very well portrayed in the Global warming debate, and Kyoto agreement, ethnic cleansing in Balkans and Africa, all such vital issues raise legitimate concerns on behalf of Cultural Anthropologists.

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I've seen a lot of intro texts

This one stands out for its clarity and lack of too much of a materialist or idealist bias, which is where other intro texts have become annoying to me. I'm trying it for my next class because 3 of my colleagues have already recommended it.

Cultural Anthropology

This textbook is enriching and it introduces cross cultural studies, which I believe everybody should be familiar with. Cultural anthropology is both interesting and informative, therefore I recommend this textbook

textbook

the book was in good condition although it wasnt described as having pages that were highlighted and there were.There also was a problem with delivery, I paid extra for faster delivery and did not receive the book till 2 days after the promise delivery date when I inquired about it I was told sorry thats never happened and not even an offer to reimburse me for the extra shipping charges I paid. Very disappointing.Im not sure I would trust this seller again.My daughter needed this book for school and had to go without.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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