Anthropological Description of Culture

1. CULTURE
A Central Theme of Anthropology
DR. JITENDRA KUMAR PREMI
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
School of Studies in Anthropology
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (C.G.)

2. Cultural Variation
(Ethnography &
Ethnology)
Physical Anthropology Socio-Cultural Anthropology
Human Evolution Human Variation Cultural Evolution
(Process of Civilization)
Study of
Fossil Man
Genetic Studies
of Human
Study by Archaeological
Evidences
Anthropology
Knowledge, Art,
Belief, Tradition,
Tradition,
Technology etc.

3. Culture Has Many Expressions
– It can be expressed in…
– Language
– Dress
– Music
– Kinship
– Subsistence (how you get food)
• And everything else you do
– It also includes Material Culture
– Which is the stuff we make and use

4. Definitions

5. According to M.J.Hershkowitz “Culture is the man-made part of the
environment”.
Two types of
Environment
Natural Environment
Ex.- Mountain, River, Ocean,
Forest, Glacier, Desert,
Plateau, Grassland etc.
Man-made Environment
Material Culture
Ex.- Car, Motor, T.V., Pen, Fan,
Table, Basket, Pottery, Ornaments
and other useful tools for men
Non-Material Culture
Ex.- Customs, Tradition,
Religion, Norms, Values,
Marriage, Songs, Magic
etc.

6. Natural Environment

7. Material Culture

8. Material Elements Chart
transportation energy
communications
health banks research firms
Economic
Infrastructure
Social
Infrastructure
Financial and
Marketing
Infrastructure
Material Culture
education
housing

9. Non Material Culture

10. 2. E.B Taylor
• Culture or Civilization, taken in the broad,
ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which
includes –knowledge, beliefs, art , morals, law, customs
and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society.
1. Acquired -
Culture is not biological,
Culture is not genetical
2.Complex Whole -
Complete learned behaviour
Complete known behaviour

11. 3. According to B. Malinowski,
“Culture is an Instrumental reality and Apparatus of satisfaction of Biological
and Derived needs”.
1. Instrumental Reality
2. Biological
Metabolism- Commisural
Reproduction- Kinship
Movement- Activity
Bodily Comfort- Shelter
Safety- Army, Police, Law
Development- Training
Health- Hygiene
Livelihood in Cultural Context-
Economy
Regulation of Human Behaviour-
Social Control
Socialization- Education
Leadership- Political Organization

12. 4. A.L. Kroeber’s Concepts
Culture is Super Organic
And
Culture is Super Individual

13. Culture is Super Organic

15. 1. Ability of Standing in Erect Posture.

16. 2. Freely Movable Hands and Opposite Direction of
Thumb

17. 3. Stereoscopic(Sharp & Focusable) Eyes

18. 4. Brilliant Brain

20. 5. Ability of Formation of Symbols and
Communication of thought by languages (Oral &
Written)

21. Characteristics of Culture
• Culture is learned, shared, and transmitted from one
generation to the next.
• Changing
• Mobility
• Universal
• Culture can be passed from parents to children, by
social organizations, special interest groups, the
government, schools, and churches.
• Culture is multidimensional, consisting of a number of
common elements that are interdependent.

22. Characteristics Cnt’d
• Integrated
• Adaptive & Always Changing (even when
not adapting) Bounding
• Operates Symbolically (through symbols)

23. Sankritization or Culturization
or
Acculturation
Acculturation is the process of adjusting and adapting to a specific
culture other than one’s own. It is one of the keys to success in
international operations.
Enculturization