Anthropological Perspective Research Articles

Learning to Think Like an Anthropologist? Toward Understanding Student Acquisition of Anthropological Perspectives in Online vs. Face-to-Face Anthropology of Education Courses

Learning to Think Like an Anthropologist? Toward Understanding Student Acquisition of Anthropological Perspectives in Online vs. Face-to-Face Anthropology of Education Courses

SOCIETAL BEHAVIOR TOWARDS ISLAMIC INSURANCE: A SOCIOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SHARIA ECONOMIC LAW

Islamic insurance has become a popular investment choice among Muslim communities, as it offers a means to mitigate future risks. The success of Islamic insurance companies is closely linked to the community's understanding of the importance of Islamic insurance. This study aims to identify and analyze the factors influencing societal behaviour towards Islamic insurance from a sociological and anthropological perspective on Sharia economic law. The analytical methods include data reduction, fact presentation, and conclusion drawing. The study's findings indicate that the most significant factor influencing the decision to adopt Islamic insurance is the level of understanding of Sharia principles, followed by the quality of the products. However, indicators such as premiums and promotional activities are less known among respondents, suggesting that insurance companies must enhance their efforts to promote Islamic insurance to the public. This research provides a deeper understanding of the factors influencing societal behaviour towards Islamic insurance and offers relevant recommendations for developing effective marketing strategies for Islamic insurance in Indonesia from both sociological and anthropological perspectives.

Stranger – Other – Muslim. On the Integration of Muslim Minorities in Europe (from an Anthropological and Cultural Perspective)

The article aims to characterize the sources of conflicts and social tensions related to the presence of the Muslim minority in Europe. To achieve this goal, I intend to utilize a transdisciplinary strategy that will enable the comparison of research results emerging from political science and sociological studies, as well as cultural studies and anthropology. This approach allows for the formulation of new diagnoses. On the one hand, it makes it possible to describe the main integration strategies regarding the Muslim minority in Europe and shows their insufficiency and ineffectiveness. On the other hand, it reminds us that migration and ethnic issues are rooted in theoretical reflection, preceding the phenomena analyzed in empirical research. It also draws attention to hidden mechanisms that determine the tendency to ethnic isolation and describes cultural processes that may contribute to remodeling the relationship between Muslim immigrants and their social environment.

Wokół śmiechu i jego funkcji wspólnotowych w życiu społecznym i w sztuce. Rozważania z perspektywy antropologiczno-pedagogicznej

The aim of the study which adopts an anthropological and pedagogical perspective is to reflect on the community functions of art that uses comedy eliciting laughter. The subject of interest is therefore comedy-related laughter perceived as a socio-cultural phenomenon. The article examines various forms of comedy that cause laugher, and discusses their conditions and transformations. Selected examples from the field of art (literature, theater, film, visual arts) are used for exemplification. The considerations presented in the text arose from the questions about the reasons for the marginal interest in comedy and laughter, including in its community functions, in the theory of aesthetic education and in the contemporary discourse of art pedagogy.

MAPPILAPPAATTU AND OPPANA: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTE ON MAPPILA SONGS AND PERFORMING ART

The Muslim population of Kerala state is known as the Mappilas. The community is formed due to commerce between the Arabians and the Malabarians. Indigenous culture had a significant effect on Mappila's arts and ceremonies. The Mappilas created a distinctive cultural pattern that encompassed a variety of artistic aspects, including their traditional song, Mappilappaattus, and one of the most exquisite performing arts, Oppana. Most scholarly research on Mappilas is historical and ignores anthropological elements like arts and rituals. Thus, this essay aims to offer an anthropological perspective on Mappila songs, known as Mappilappaattu and the performing art of Mappila women, known as Oppana. While examining the nature of Mappilappaattus and its many genres, this research highlights that the secularised Mappilappaattus, which was primarily romantic in substance, drew people from beyond the Mappila community. Oppana also had a secular and romantic tone, which appealed to the public. The popularity of Mappilappaattus and Oppana can be explained, for example, by looking at the history of Malayalam films. Mappilappaattu and Oppana were staples of Malayalam film from the beginning of the 1950s.

The Deficit of Safety Culture in the Creation of the Economic Aspect of Social Reality

The article focuses on different aspects of economic security. The author considers what kind of impact the economic sciences have on human’s culture and security culture. Economic security is described with security culture model. The article points out the role of anthropological perspective in economics, and shows which criteria are used in this field. It criticizes lack of socio-cultural perspective. The article describes also the phenomenon of consumerism and its negative impact on society.

Writing of Business Ethnography: Reflections on Fieldwork and Theory

The writing of business ethnography has expanded from the study of small social units such as factories to the discussion of transnational markets, transnational business networks and global finance in under the context of globalization. A holistic anthropological perspective and use of ethnography research have played important roles in the development of business anthropology. The research tradition and orientation of anthropology not only determine research perspectives and approaches in business ethnography, they also influence the theoretical construction of business anthropology. The study of business ethnography in China provides not only local interpretations of the theory and practice of business anthropology, but also opportunities to reflect on the use of ethnography for such studies.

Totemic Tradition and Identity of Korku Tribe: An Anthropological Perspective

Tribal totemism is a cultural phenomenon that is deeply rooted in their societies. It encompasses complex symbolic systems where specific animals, plants, or natural elements serve as emblems representing ancestral connection, identity, and spiritual beliefs. Totems are revered as spiritual entities, representing a connection to ancestry, tradition, and the natural world. The choice of totem is typically rooted in mythological stories or historical events, and it serves as a symbol of identity, kinship, and shared values within the tribal communities. Totem is given special importance in the Korku tribe. Korku always remains alert and devoted to their totems. The Korku tribe believes that their origin is based on a particular totem, so they think that totem has a wonderful power that protects and warns them in times of trouble. Even a specific message associated with a totem may be a premonition of some event. The Korku people consider that the totem is inhabited by a supernatural power that controls their social life. In Korku society, women often have totem symbols tattooed on different parts of their body, especially on their hands. Korku follows all the rules and prohibitions related to his totem very sincerely. Like many other tribes, Korku also has beliefs related to the origin of the totem.

A life of piety: aging and dying in a rural Sinhala Buddhist village

ABSTRACT This paper explores the relationship between aging, care, and death in a rural village in Sri Lanka from an anthropological perspective. It examines how the Buddhist concept of merit acts as a link between these elements. Through a 14-month ethnographic study, I observed how elders, and their younger caregivers engage in a reciprocal exchange of care and merit. Elders in the village engage in various pious activities to accumulate merit, which in turn leads to the care they receive from others as a meritorious deed. The responsibility of caring for the elderly primarily falls on women, who seek to accumulate more merit to alleviate their suffering. Both elders and caregivers believe that accumulating merit reduces suffering, leads to a good death, and ensures a good rebirth. These beliefs are reinforced and evaluated by Buddhist clergy in funeral sermons. This article illustrates how Buddhist ideas of accumulating merit give rise to an emerging ‘economy of merit,’ wherein elders are cared for by their families and communities. This finding has significant implications for understanding and addressing the challenges of an aging population in Sri Lanka.

Reconstructing identities among Santhal: An anthropological perspective

This study of evolving identities is based on instrumental approach in a way that present identities are the product of historical forces and situations as the culture and society of Santhal from Haldibari Rural Municipality have always been in the form of evolution and acceptance of changing realities. It explains the changes seen in the origin, shifting nature, and their agentive space with resistance which has helped to create new space in their own life. This research is in quest of the ways of evolution of Santhal identities and their transforming relations due to various causes. It has uncovered Santhal of their ‘being’ and their subjective experiences as Santhal in the more significant eastern part of Tarai Nepal, particularly in Haldibari Rural Municipality.

Zur Ambivalenz von ‚Werten‘ in Diskussionen zur Klima- und Umweltethik

Abstract In environmental ethics, many approaches are searching for a justification of the protection of nature and biodiversity via an account of the intrinsic or inherent value of non-human nature, i. e. a justification that does not rely on the perspective of human beings. This leads to intricate problems regarding value theory. This paper proposes to avoid those problems by investigating explicitly anthropocentric pathways. It discusses what kinds of reasons for the protection of nature can be developed from the consistent practical self-understanding of agents. First, it is argued that the practical commitments of agents necessarily involve some normative commitments to the protection of the generic conditions of agency, which are particularly relevant for the ecological conditions that enable us to act and to realise goals. Second, it is discussed whether the presence of non-human nature is particularly relevant from the perspective of philosophical anthropology. Is it not important for human beings to experience non-human nature as an environment that is not fully planned and designed by human beings? The general aim is to show that it is worthwhile to search for justifications of the protection of nature and biodiversity from the practical self-understanding of human beings.

Integration of Culture, Tourism, and Regional Development in Multi-ethnic Regions from the Perspective of Anthropology—A Case Study of Longsheng Autonomous County, Guilin, Guangxi

Integration of Culture, Tourism, and Regional Development in Multi-ethnic Regions from the Perspective of Anthropology—A Case Study of Longsheng Autonomous County, Guilin, Guangxi

Communication for Specific Purposes as translingual

Recent theoretical developments suggest that meaning making involves the relationality of human and nonhuman agents and diverse semiotic resources working together. “Translingual” is an inclusive term to refer to how different languages and modalities work together in communication. I draw from enregisterment perspectives in linguistic anthropology to demonstrate how a corpus of semiotic features becomes sedimented to identify specialized communicative activities. I illustrate from the Research Group Meeting of international STEM scholars in a midwestern American university. Despite their variable grammatical proficiency in English, the international scholars communicate effectively because they draw from a translingual assemblage that is diversified, and collaborate for joint outcomes adopting reciprocal communicative strategies. Outcomes are not defined by the grammatical mastery of individual speakers, but how participants collaborate through embodied translingual semiotic resources in their setting and community, facilitated by suitable ethical dispositions. The pedagogical alternative proposed will focus on cultivating the dispositions to negotiate translingual repertoires, material ecologies, and social networks for more inclusive outcomes in communication for specific purposes.

The Role of Local Knowledge in Natural Resources Conservation: An Environmental Anthropological Perspective in Traditional Agriculture

This article explores the pivotal role of local knowledge in the conservation of natural resources from the unique perspective of environmental anthropology within the context of traditional agriculture. Traditional agricultural practices have historically relied on indigenous knowledge systems, passed down through generations, to maintain a delicate balance between human livelihoods and the environment. This research endeavors to shed light on the invaluable insights offered by local communities and their practices in preserving ecological harmony. Through an interdisciplinary approach, combining anthropological fieldwork and environmental studies, we examine how local knowledge systems influence the sustainable use of natural resources, focusing on agricultural practices and their impact on ecosystems. We also analyze the transmission of this knowledge within communities and the adaptations made over time in response to changing environmental conditions. The findings of this study underscore the significance of local knowledge as a source of practical wisdom in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Indigenous practices, such as agroforestry, crop rotation, and seed saving, have often proven to be more sustainable and resilient than modern agricultural methods. Moreover, these traditional practices reflect a deep understanding of the local environment and its ecological interdependencies. By understanding and respecting the indigenous knowledge held by traditional agricultural communities, policymakers, conservationists, and researchers can collaborate with local stakeholders to develop holistic and effective strategies for the conservation of natural resources. This research emphasizes the need for fostering partnerships that integrate scientific knowledge and local wisdom in order to achieve long-term sustainability and resilience in agriculture and environmental management. Ultimately, this article contributes to the growing body of literature highlighting the importance of acknowledging and incorporating local knowledge in efforts to address environmental issues and underscores the role of environmental anthropology as a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary conservation practices.

Escaping Chronos: The Metaverse as a Surrogate for Aeon

ABSTRACT The Metaverse promises the abolition of physical and temporal boundaries, people achieving what they want freely, and the feeling of immortality. In this paper I analyze the hyper-spatiotemporal nature of the Metaverse from a Christian anthropological perspective. I start by reviewing the Christian understanding of time and the Metaverse space–time construct. Next, I draw a parallel between digital immortality and the eternal life of the age to come. Finally, arguing that the Metaverse’s offer of digital immortality is a palliative, discarnate surrogate, I discuss the Christian perspective on how eternity can be authentically anticipated while living in this world.

Protection or commodification of women? Discursive construction of bridewealth on Chinese social media

ABSTRACT Bridewealth, the long-standing practice of groom-to-bride monetary transfer, is now facing growing backlash in China. Researchers mostly approach bridewealth from the perspectives of anthropology and economics, highlighting its social impact yet leaving public opinions on it less heeded. To fill this niche, this study collected the most “liked” 5,000 posts from Sina Weibo, identified dominant themes of bridewealth supporters and detractors, and analyzed how these themes are (de)legitimatized. Drawing on feminist critical discourse analysis and van Leeuwen’s analytical toolkit, content analysis reveals that supporters mainly see bridewealth as a protection of women, an investment in the new families, and a worthy tradition to follow, whereas opponents associate it with the commodification of women, financial challenges to men’s natal families, and long-gone feudal shackles. These themes are enacted with strategies like rationalization, moralization, victimization, and authorization. This study stands out for situating bridewealth in media studies and illuminating the contested public discourse on it. More importantly, given that most supporters are women and they bear the brunt of the family-work balance, the study also gives voice to the much-silenced women’s marriage-related concerns in institutional media so that their welfare and self-actualization can be accommodated in future policy-making.

Phenomenology and intersubjectivity in political economy: an anti-perfectionist perspective

Anti-perfectionism is a philosophical perspective combining the view of man as an imperfect and non-self-sufficient being with a scientific epistemology based on imperfect knowledge. From an epistemological perspective, it has roots in Socrates and, more recently, in the post-empiricism of Giambattista Vico, up to phenomenology. From an anthropological perspective, it is a philosophical tradition based on an awareness of the constitutive dependency of individual performance and fulfilment of man on his interaction with others. It is conceived in opposition to the individualism and perfect rationality of most social theories. The paper analyses both the philosophical and the epistemological premises of anti-perfectionism as well as its consequences in terms of economic methodology. It will specifically develop the momentary intersection of phenomenology and Austrian economics. The theory of knowledge and of sense-making of phenomenology will be discussed with particular attention to intersubjectivity, which expresses anti-perfectionism well. The interpretations of human knowledge and action of Scheler and Schütz are analysed and connected to some contemporary streams of Austrian economics.

Kupi II Congress and Results of Religious Views on Contemporary Women's Issues in the Perspective of Islamic Anthropology

This paper is a study related to the Indonesian Women's Ulama Congress (KUPI) and its religious views through an Islamic feminist anthropology approach. This is because the discussion on KUPI hasn’t been captured through this approach. In fact, by this approach, the problems surrounding women can be seen in more depth and detail. By using primary data from observations and secondary data from literature reviews, the results found that KUPI or the Indonesian Women's Ulama Congress is a women's organization in Indonesia that brings together various individual backgrounds to study women's problems based on Islamic teachings that are mutabadil. Through discussions, halaqoh and religious meetings, the first KUPI congress in Cirebon produced three religious views while the second congress in Jepara produced five religious views and several recommendations regarding the protection of women from religious extremism, forced marriages, dangers of pregnancies due to settlement, genital injuries, and issues environment. KUPI activities are cultural in nature. Participants who come from various backgrounds bring facts and data in the field to be interacted with in order to realize human reason, mind and power which then shape culture and find an Islamic religion that is moderate, gender fair and provides human welfare.

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN OF QIANG COSTUMES

Рurpose. This paper analyzes the evolution process and cultural connotation of Qiang costume form, discusses the application form of Qiang costume elements in modern clothing design, and provides a theoretical basis for the innovative design of national costumes. Methodology. The field research method, literature analysis method, and case study method are used to analyze the evolution process, cultural connotation, and design application of Qiang costumes. Results. By studying the development process and style design changes of the Qiang costumes, it is concluded that its unique cultural connotation and design characteristics are closely related to the social characteristics, production methods and religious beliefs of the Qiang people. It is the materialized expression of the Qiang people's world outlook and national psychology. It reveals the reasons for the change of the Qiang costume modelling and proposes the method of using ethnic elements in modern costume design. Scientific novelty. This paper studies the development process of Qiang costume shape from the perspective of design, history, ethnology and anthropology, and puts forward that Qiang costume is the materialized expression form of local people 's world outlook, values and aesthetics, and clarifies that the change of Qiang costume shape is influenced by religious culture and Han-Tibetan culture. Suggestions are made in the form of integration of national costume elements with modern clothing design. Practical significance. The Qiang costume has been fused with other ethnic cultures in the course of historical changes, which is both inherited and changed, which is very inspiring to modern costume design. Digging deeper into the cultural connotation and design language of Qiang costume, so that it can innovate the design method and explore the design carrier while inheriting the national culture, so as to provide reference for the creation of a costume design that can embody both the traditional Chinese culture and the sense of the times.

Helmuth Plessner’s Philosophy of the Work of Art in Anthropological and Phenomenological Perspective

This paper aims to explore the theme of art in Helmuth Plessner’s philosophical anthropology and show the possibilities of its use in the analysis of artistic creation and artwork. The article is divided into three parts: in the first part, it presents the background of Plessner’s anthropological project and the intersection of his philosophy with Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology. This strategy enables the synergy of both approaches which can be used for reflection of art. The second part displays the scope and ingenuity of Plessner’s approach through a selection of texts where he addresses art. And finally, the third part delves into a functional elaboration of the anthropology of an artwork, specifically, using Max Beckmann as an example, into the question of anthropological foundations in art making, and the question of new form in art. For the latter question, I use the approach to architecture as an example relying on corporeality and Umwelt as guiding concepts. This analysis provides, on the one hand, description of anthropologically significant phenomena of artistic production of the first half of the twentieth century, and on the other hand, reveals functional determinations of corporeality, the world, and resonance with the world, the so-called equilibrium, which can be used to understand the artwork, and artistic production in the creation of a new form in art. Keywords: philosophical anthropology, phenomenology, Helmuth Plessner, Edmund Husserl, Max Beckmann, corporeality, Umwelt, resonance, new form.