Describe the cultural materialist perspective and an example of the perspective applied to a cultural practice

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. The cultural materialist believes culture is shaped by material factors.
2. Culture is divided into a three-level system: infrastructure, structure, and superstructure.
3. The example given in the text is the sacred cows of Hinduism. A cultural materialist emphasizes practical benefits they provide, and de-emphasizes the beliefs associated with them.

Anthropology & Archaeology

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What are some ways in which linguistics can aid archaeologists, biological anthropologists, and sociocultural anthropologists who are interested in history?

What will be an ideal response?

Anthropology & Archaeology

Essentialism refers to the process of viewing an identity as established, real, and frozen, so as to hide the historical processes and politics within which that identity developed.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Anthropology & Archaeology

Which of the following is true of dowry in India today? a. It is prohibited by law in India

b. It is only conducted as bride service today. c. Gift exchange is common in addition to dowry. d. Dowry is now associated with both males and females.

Anthropology & Archaeology

Increasing abandonment of pastoralism by the Y r k is the result of

A) changes in the market economy. B) the decline in bride wealth. C) loss of pasture due to overgrazing. D) predatory raids by other groups. E) harsh weather.

Anthropology & Archaeology