AnthropologyLesson 3 of 6 in the course Culture Concept Theory: Theories of Cultural Change

Material Culture, Practices, Norms, Ideologies, and Worldviews

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Culture includes what people make, what they do, and what they think. This lesson focuses on material culture: human-made or human-shaped objects created and used in group contexts. Studying these objects helps anthropologists learn about a society’s knowledge, needs, relationships, and way of life.

Material culture consists of objects made and used by humans in group contexts. Examples include tools, buildings, pottery, beads, furniture, appliances, books, and smartphones. Objects can be simple or complex, ancient or modern.

All flashcards

What is material culture?
Objects people make and use in group contexts.
What does technology mean in anthropology?
The knowledge and skills used to produce objects, not just electronic devices.
What is a cultural frame?
A shared, patterned way of interpreting a situation and orienting action.
What is a cultural practice?
A habitual, socially learned pattern of action and speech.
What is a worldview?
A broad ideology that shapes how people understand the world and their place in it.

Quiz questions

  1. What distinguishes a cultural practice from an isolated action?Answer: It is a socially learned pattern of action and speech.
  2. What is a sociocultural role?Answer: A conventional position held in a particular context.
  3. What does an ideology do?Answer: Models a social realm by connecting roles, actions, relationships, and rationales.
  4. Why are ideologies considered partial?Answer: They simplify complex reality and foreground some perspectives over others.
  5. How do cultural frames help people in a social setting?Answer: They help people interpret the situation and anticipate appropriate actions.

Based on Introduction to Anthropology by Jennifer Hasty, David G. Lewis, Marjorie M. Snipes (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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