INT
TRODUCT
TION TO THEORY
T
IN ANTHROPOLO
OGY
Theory is
s not taught in anthropology
a
in tthe same way th
hat it is in sociolo
ogy. You WILL be expected to discuss theoretical issues in you
ur essays, and you
y will
be expec
cted to use yourr theoretical know
wledge from soc
ciology. We will be highlighting theories when lo
ooking at topics, so make sure tthat you understtand the
basics.
Here is a summary:
CON
NSENSUS VS CO
ONFLICT
Fun
nctionalism vs Marxism
M
society is fair/unffair?
Earrly anthropologistss tried to
stres
ss the universal aspects of
soc
ciety. Marx introdu
uced the
concept of classs .
Anthropologists have taken
t
this
conc
cept to explain exploitation
e.g. in colonialissm.
STRUCTU
URE VS. ACTION
N
A centra
al debate within
anthropolo
ogy - is our culture
e
chosen/nego
otiated by us or iss it
impo
osed on us?
Structural ex
xplanations sugge
est
that we ha
ave no say in the
position/ro
ole we take, whilstt
action (inte
erpretivist) theoriess
suggest we
w negotiate our
ide
entity/role.
CRITICAL ANTHR
ROPOLOGY
Feminism - anthrop
pology was
e
essentially
'malestream' until the
1960's when feminissts began to
ch
hallenge men's interrpretations of
culttures which were be
eing applied to
women's experriences.
Thiis approach challenges traditional
a
approaches
to ethno
ography and
co
onsiders the ways in which new
te
echnology such as cyborgs can
transcend tradition
nal gender
roles/norm
ms.
POSTM
MODERN/ECLECT
TIC
A
APPROACH
After a bit of crisis in the 19
980's,
many anth
hropologists todayy take
ideas from a range of theo
ories
and mix
m them togetherr.
This approach recognises th
hat we
no longer live in a modern era
e but
possibly a postmodern one where
w
global isssues are much more
m
relevant.