With best regards, Lorenz
anthropology in the news
Social Neuroscience – Psychologists neuroscientists and anthropologists together
The Guardian
A rapidly growing field of research called “social neuroscience” draws together psychologists, neuroscientists and anthropologists all studying the neural basis for the social interaction between humans.
Traditionally, cognitive neuroscientists focused on scanning the brains of people doing specific tasks such as eating or listening to music, while social psychologists and social scientists concentrated on groups of people and the interactions between them. To understand how the brain makes sense of the world, it was inevitable that these two groups would have to get together. >> continue
SEE ALSO:
Social cognitive neuroscience: At the frontier of science (American Psychological Association)
The Guardian
A rapidly growing field of research called "social neuroscience" draws together psychologists, neuroscientists and anthropologists all studying the neural basis for the social interaction between humans.
Traditionally, cognitive neuroscientists focused on scanning the brains of people doing specific tasks such…
Ethnography a Buzz Word in the Industry – Where is the Quality Control?
A post on “This Blog Sits at the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics” about “self-trained anthropologists” who claim to be experts in ethnographic research led to an interesting debate:
“There are lots of people claiming to do ethnography who are, um, “self trained.” There are of no barriers to entry and no one licensing ethnographers. And the term “ethnography” is now so sought after in certain circles that there is plenty of demand.” >> continue
A post on "This Blog Sits at the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics" about "self-trained anthropologists" who claim to be experts in ethnographic research led to an interesting debate:
"There are lots of people claiming to do ethnography who are, um,…
Geldof’s Live8 and Western myths about Africa
Interesting post on Black Looks by African feminist Sokari on Live Aid that remembers on the debates on the African Village in the zoo of Augsburg. In both cases, it’s our images of Africa that are questionable.
She writes:
“Do They Know Its Christmas” has just been re-recorded – remember the lyrics?
“underneath a burning sun………….where nothing ever grows” “no rain nor river flows”
This is the vision of Africa being sold to millions of young people all over the West – an African stereotype described by Gerald Caplan as “helpless, dependent, passive victims, and we westerners as decent, selfless, compassionate, resourceful missionaries”.
These simplistic and reductionist views of Africa are not just unhelpful they actually add to the problems Africa faces as it reduces them to “natural causes – bad luck”.
She quotes Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie who suggests that it is not only Africa that is in receipt of Aid, the West also needs to be weaned off the Aid it receives from Africa and lists 5 areas where that aid comes from. >> continue
UPDATE:
Globalvoices Roundup: Africans on Live 8
Globalvoices: More Africans – and Afrophiles – on Live8
Interesting post on Black Looks by African feminist Sokari on Live Aid that remembers on the debates on the African Village in the zoo of Augsburg. In both cases, it's our images of Africa that are questionable.
She writes:
"Do They Know…
Conference Culture
Academics live in another world. In this world, time does not exist. Researchers arrive late in seminars. People kept opening the door and entering the room even 10-15 minutes after Richard Jenkins had started with his keynote speech at Childhoods 2005 in Oslo. Jenkins: “It’s like holding a lecture in a bus station.”
“Oh, I don’t know about time”, the next speaker says, surprised over the fact that 13 of her 15 minutes already have passed while she is still struggeling with her introduction. She was not the only one.
Academics live in another world. In this world, time does not exist. Researchers arrive late in seminars. People kept opening the door and entering the room even 10-15 minutes after Richard Jenkins had started with his keynote speech at Childhoods…