The cross section of respecting cultural beliefs and patient centered care is explored early on in the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which looks at the experiences of a Hmong family in their hardships within the United States medical system as recent refugees. It is nearly a sad story of everything […]
The concept of human sexuality is a sensitive and critical subject area while learning the cultural practices of a given society both present and past. It is sensitive because, many societies will place emphasis on individual privacy for the human body. It is important because, for many societies, sex (and sexuality) stretches beyond procreation; by […]
Arguably the single most unifying event in the human experience is within child birthing; however, human diversity teaches students of anthropology to compare or contrast the intricacies of one set of traditions with the practices of a differing society to gain a deeper perspective and appreciation for the other culture. Harvard alumni and winner of […]
With a culture centered around reciprocity and spirituality, it is no wonder that marriage is a critical characteristic of Gebusi life. In truth, it is in every society that “kinship and marriages are important,” and how those relationships are manifested, informs the cultural narrative (66). Within Gebusi society are clans and kinships. Clans are member […]
“…[T]he community was protecting itself from identifying too closely with so many young lives ending so quickly” (47). The events surrounding death in Gebusi culture gives way to further revelations for anthropologist Bruce Knauft. Dugawe was a Gebusi man, with a wife and several unfortunate outcomes for his family and him. It is important to […]
Gebusi society tends to circle around survival incentivized work and relaxation incentivized socialization. Fulfilling primary needs, such as the need for food, shelter and a sense of belonging appears to be natural for the Gebusi. The concept of belonging is demonstrated to researcher Bruce Knauft (and company) on many occasions. Knauft describes generalized reciprocity as […]
In the broadest sense of the term ‘surprised,’ is this idea of an unknown occurrence, some event that one cannot plan for. To be a cultural anthropologist is to be an observer, not forging events but rather observing them as they occur. It is an important feature for ethnography because it allows the researcher to […]
In 1930, William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily,” was published in The Forum. To help characterize the success and mass appeal of this eerie tale, “A Rose for Emily,” has had a television adaptation, a spinoff into a novel, has been the inspiration for a song and continues to be the subject of […]
William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” is a dramatic piece intended for the stage performance. In the theatre community Shakespeare’s play is only referenced by the birthplace of the playwright because,[the Sscottish Play], is thought to be cursed. Shakespeare is responsible for least 40 plays and has contributed the English language with the invention of 1,700 words. Born […]
In 1964, John Cheever’s short story, “The Swimmer,” was published in The New Yorker magazine. In it, is a tiny eclectic world, centered around the main character, Ned Merril. Ned parades his self about the community. He crashes his neighbor’s pool parties and takes swims in their pool. ‘Neddy’ Merrill is “a slender man…far from […]
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