Introduction
Now, that you have gained an insight on what Anthropology is and what type of questions it responds to, it is paramount for the practical side of Anthropology to be put forward and thoroughly explained.
Overview
There have been many major turning points in the approach to this science since its creation. One of them is how anthropologists studied cultures: from armchair scientists that came up exclusively with theories to fieldworkers (a shout out here to Aristotle who introduced empirical evidence-based scientific thought). Fieldwork (also known as participant observation) is basically the interaction between the anthropologist and the people they study. Whether anthropologists wish to study kinship, religion, governance, economics or social organization, they need to interact with civilians. Usually, the anthropologist spends time in the community they aim to study (it can vary from a few weeks to a couple of years) and interview volunteering locals in order to gain insight on their customs and the values that are relevant to them. If relevant to the study, the anthropologist may even participate in various practices and daily-life activities. It is imperative for the anthropologist to take many notes. Some anthropologists, such as Nancy Scheper-Hughes, mentioned how beneficial coming back after many years to the place where they did fieldwork was, as they could see the changes that occurred after they did their empirical research.
Importance
At first glance, this may not seem like much. It may not sound very impressive to interact with people from a different culture and to get accustomed with “their way to be”. However, fieldwork has not only revolutionized the science of Anthropology, but also it has completely changed the approach we should have to less “civilized” cultures. Put differently, it has gradually abolished the false idea that Western societies are the natural and inevitable progress of any society. It has helped anthropologists to really put themselves in the shoes of the local, to acknowledge what is truly relevant to them and make the important realization that it is narrow-minded and mistaken to say that there is a “right way to be” when it comes to cultures. For instance, in some Papua New Guinean cultures the first child and the twins of a family are murdered, something that Westerners will certainly find outrageous. It is of utmost importance to acknowledge cultural diversity and to understand that it is not something to be changed.
Danger
Personally, I believe that apart from the importance and difficulty of fieldwork, the dangers should be taken into account as well. Most anthropologists choose areas of fieldwork that are not much frequented by tourists. These places can vary from Brazilian shantytowns (that are unsanitary), to African country borders (where criminality is high), to tribes (which may not be friendly to trespassers) and even drug cartels (need I say more?). Death may occur in the context of these dangerous places as an accident, but it may strangely occur as a result of coming home after strongly getting attached to the people they interacted with during fieldwork. This is just one of the plenty reasons why anthropological research is so valuable.
Conclusion
Anthropological participant observation is crucial when it comes to studying a culture, getting “the native’s point of view”, as the great anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski has stated. It is important, dangerous and fulfilling at the same time and it plays a great role in creating change at a large scale.
Bibliography:
“Culture, Scarcity, and Maternal Thinking: Maternal Detachment and Infant Survival in a Brazilian Shantytown”, by Nancy Scheper-Hughes
“Euphoria”, by Lily King
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