Cultural Anthropology Accelerated

CCC students of Cultural Anthropology enter the classroom with an accelerated pace. The student projects they make for the class and the world to see express a profound sense of people and place in the Plains and Front Range of the Rockies.

Students also use a perspectivistic approach in the anthropology of peoples around the world nowadays and from the past.

Instructor Dr. Lin Davis-Stephens

Introductory Cultural Anthropology: An Interactive Approach

By Loretta A. Cormier, Sharyn R. Jones
ISBN Number: 978-1-936306-05-0

Musical instruments of the world

The Flute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGMf_Z_ew18&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Erecting a yurt slideshow

http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/culture/ger/gersldshow.html

Silk Road Web lesson link

http://silkroadsagepark.wordpress.com/process/ferghana-fertile-valley-of-the-old-north-silk-road/

Anthropology of India

By Logan Wark

From football to hamburgers, American culture often changes with the times and popularity. But some countries, such as India, have a culture that modernizes, but still remains constant. Over 80% of India’s habitants practice the religion of Hinduism, while the other 20% practice faiths such as Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Jainism. So it may come as no surprise that India’s culture is largely based around their faith. Influencing things ranging from food to clothing, entertainment to family, India’s culture is one of color and spiritual enlightment. First, I’ll expand on some popular religions practiced in India that so many people’s life are centered around.

Religions

Hinduism is the most practiced religion in the country of India with about 82% of the population owning to it. This religion can’t be traced to an explicit founder and does not promote the worshiping of just one holy being. It’s acceptable for followers to worship in any god, goddess, the “Supreme Spirit,” or the Indestructible Soul. And unlike most religions, Hinduism does not have a holy book, instead holy text that include The Rig Veda, Upanishads, and the Bhagwad Gita. Deepawali, Holi, Pongal, and Shiva Ratri are only a few festivals that celebrate not only gods and goddesses, but also the sun, moon, planets, animals, etc.

Branched off of Hinduism is the second most widely practiced religion in India-Buddhism. It was founded by Gautam Buddha and has comparable believes as Hinduism. Buddhists believe that everything can change, but some things will last longer then others. They hold the belief that karma will lead the occurrence of all experiences and in the everlasting soul and cycle of rebirth.
The four noble truths of Buddhism are the following:
1. Suffering is universal
2. Suffering is caused by desire and yearning
3. Suffering can be prevented and overcome
4. Suppression of suffering can lead to removal of suffering
By prevailing past cravings and desire can lead to nirvana (complete enlightment).

Christianity is also practiced in India. It was brought to the country through missionaries, the first one believed to be St. Thomas who founded a church in the city of Kerala. Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism are all faiths in India as well. Religious beliefs also affect the diet of Indian people.

Food

Indian food is known heavily for their spices, of which are used for nutrition. Both Muslim and Hindu have influence the preparation of meals. Around 650 A.D. the Hindu began sustaining from meat because the cow was sacred to Mother Goddess.
The Hindu vegetarian tradition is widespread in India, although many Hindus eat meat now. The Muslim tradition is most evident in the cooking of meats. Mughiai food, kababs, rich Kormas (curries) and nargisi koftas (meatballs), the biryani (a layered rice and meat preparation), rogan josh, and preparations from the clay over or randoor like tandoori rotis and tandoori chicken are all important contributions made by Muslim settlers in India. The British made their contribution by starting the cultivation of tea.

Northern India cuisines
Northern India’s staple foods include rice, bread, and vegetables. A meal could be comprised of unleavened bread either fried or baked on a griddle with rice and anywhere from fried veggies, curries, pickles, etc. Desserts have a rice base or milk pudding and smothered in syrup. Kheer is rice pudding and kulfi is a nutty ice cream.

Southern India cuisines
Roasted, steamed, and non-greasy is how Indians prefer their chow. A thin soup, spiced vegetables, and a preparation of curd is an example of a common meal. Fish and coconut are also often widely used because of the close proximity to the ocean.

Fashion

The sari is essential to the traditional attire of India’s women. Five to six yards in length, the sari accentuates or obscures, and makes in an elegant wardrobe. Choli’s are worn underneath as a blouse. “Apart from the choli, women in Rajasthan wear a form of pleated skirt known as the ghargra or lehanga. This skirt is secured at the waist and leaves the back and midriff bare. The heads are however covered by length of fine cotton known as orhni or dupatta.” Salwars have recently become popular. These pants are pajama-like and “drawn tightly in at the waist and ankles.”

For men, the wardrobe is a little more modernized, western-styled clothing. Shirts and slacks are popular amongst all regions of India, but still some prefer traditional clothing. A lungi is a short length of fabric and is worn around the thighs. The dhoti is a longer version of the lungi with added material pulled up between the legs.

Marriage

Everyone’s heard of arranged marriages and comes to no surprise that the tradition is still commonly used. The process is in the form of an interview. Often the two families in question will provide bios and pictures of the couples and their families before ever meeting. If the two are interested the families will set to meet, but in old tradition, usually the bride and groom won’t even meet until the wedding day.

How the two are set up depends on their personalities. Families will look at education level, cultural background, living location, religion, and diet (non-vegetarian, vegetarian). Today, the couple will be allowed a small courtship, which usually consists of meeting and talking. If the couple doesn’t think it’ll be a good match, the marriage can be cancelled. If they go through with it the bride will live with her in-laws in a joint family setting.

As the leaders in the world’s science and math scores, India has produced the most engineers. They have a strong cultural background and contributed a great deal to society. The following paragraph was found on Indianchild.com and sums up what India is all about.
Indian culture is also about respecting elders, honoring heroes and cherishing love. It is a land of aspirations, achievements and self-reliance. Indian culture has a very high level of tolerance and hence he advent of so many external cultures was not restricted. Adaptation to any culture or embracing a religion was always the democratic culture…”

References
http://www.indianchild.com/culture%20_1.htm
http://pardesifashions.com/Tradition/ArrangedMarriage.aspx
http://asianinfo.org/asianinfo/india/family_customs.htm
http://asianinfo.org/asianinfo/india/religion.htm
http://india.saarctourism.org/food-of-india.html
http://indianfoodforever.com/food-guide/indian-food-cuisine.html
http://www.globaltravelguider.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Indian-sari-2.jpg
http://assets2.indiamarks.com/images/guide/extra_large_image9701.jpg?1242129887
http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/news_impact/2009/01/large_WEB-MARRIAGE.jpg