Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Angela Lockard Reed

Outline 13, November 19, 2003

Culture Change

I           N!ai:  the Life and Words of a !Kung Woman

            A          As described in the film, how have the !Kung been underdeveloped in the sense of dependency theory?

            B          In what way does the case of the !Kung as represented through the life history of N!ai show the effects of neocolonialism on culture?

            C         What have been the specific effects of colonialism on women in !Kung society?  What have the effects been on men?

            D         How would modernization theory explain the living conditions of contemporary !Kung people as portrayed in the film?  Would this be a very effective theory to explain this case of social and economic change?

            E          What are some examples of secular persuasion depicted in the film?  How does the South African government want the !Kung to live?

            F          What are some examples of sacred persuasion depicted in the film?

            G         International tourists, the South African government and military as well as the !Kung people all have different interests in the Kalahari.  Is the Kalahari desert where the !Kung live a core are or a periphery area in the internal distribution of power and wealth within South Africa?  What resources are the people in this world system competing for?

            H          How is the cultural change of the !Kung an example of acculturation?

II           Why do Cultures Change?

            A          May deliberately change in response to a perceived problem.

            B          Accidental change through the unforeseen interaction of events.

            C         Contact with outside societies and people.

            D         Change can be gradual or drastic.

            E          Not all change is adaptive

            F          Acceptance of new practices often leads to the loss of an older one

III          How do Cultures Change?

            A          Innovation

                        1          Primary innovation

                        2          Secondary innovation

            B          Diffusion

            C         Acculturation

IV         What Reactions do People have to Enforced Change?

            A          Move away

            B          Syncretism

                        1          Trobrianders Cricket

                        2          Voodoo

            C         Revitalization Movements

                        1          “Cargo cults” of Melanesia

                        2          1960s peace movement

                        3          Millenarianism

                        4          Nativism

                        5          Revitalization movements can sometimes combine both nativism and millenarianism.

                                    a          Great Plains Native American Indian Ghost Dance of 1890  

                        6          Revolutionary

V          Modernization

            A          Technological development

            B          Agricultural development

            C         Industrialization

            D         Urbanization

            E          Structural differentiation

VI         Change and the Kaqchikel Maya