ANT208H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cultural Relativism, Karl Lagerfeld, Spiritual Gift
Document Summary
Theory and method in the study of popular culture. Why the aversion to popular culture in anthropology: early focus in anthropology on tribal society. Tribal seen as uncivilized and pure, but closer to nature: prejudice against (cid:498)lowbrow(cid:499) culture. Lowbrow refers to things looked down upon, such as monster trucks, strip clubs and other form of lowbrow entertainment: new direction in theory, holistic perspective is all-inclusive. The holistic perspective looks at the interrelationships between the aspects of culture and society such as passion, imagination and experience. Any artifact made by humans (clothes, symbols, books) that has a recognizable form. But these forms can be made of different substances (ex. spoons can be made from wood or rock). The substance of the form may change the meaning of the artifact (ex. a crucifix made of wood vs. one made of manure) Can be observed but is fleeting (cooking, hunting, speaking, eating).
