Anthropology and You

Cultural Musings

Anthropology is not just an academic field anymore.  Anthropology gives you a broader lens through which to view other societies and cultures.  It helps you better understand yourself and the world around you and your place in it.  Anthropology allows you to see more clearly what makes each of us human.  This website is an exciting way to explore the relevance of anthropology in our daily lives. 

Whether you have traveled to Mexico, Tombstone, Arizona, Falls of Rough, Kentucky, or Rome, anthropology fosters cultural awareness.  At age 30, when I first met my father’s family in Mexico, I experienced how language impacts identity and communication.  My relatives were bilingual Spanish-English, but I spoke only English.  The language exchanges between us shaped our social interactions.  You may have had similar experiences, seeing cultural differences in human behaviors, in your travels.  When we live within a dominant culture, we often think our way is the only way.

Viking Celebration

Yule Holiday, Norway

Spanish

Spanish Celebration

Feria in Cordoba, Spain

Language is the universal way culture is passed down in the present and to future generations.  It impacts communication and almost everything else we do in our everyday lives.  Studying other languages and other cultures enriches the understanding you get about yourself and others.  Anthropology perspectives greatly enhance your worldview.

Cultural anthropology teaches us that we are all complex individuals with diverse behaviors depending upon our enculturation from birth.  When our eyes are opened, we recognize social dynamics in our community, in the workplace, and within our relationships with others.

Anthropology perspectives can be applied to all our future endeavors, whether in career choices, academic pursuits, community involvements, or our travels to distant lands.

Welcome to Cultural Musings, where current events reflect the significance of anthropology and its implications in your life.

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