If you're an anthropologist, or even just a casual student of anthropology (I'm including followers of this blog), you've heard the phrase "Four Fields Anthropology," or you've heard about the four fields in general. But it's important to note that approaching anthropology as an enormous umbrella that encompasses everything that humans can possibly be related … Continue reading Why Four Fields?
History of Anthropology
Why I Won’t Miss the Missing Link.
The "missing link" is one of the most pervasive ideas in the popular understanding of evolution. I hate it, I'm not alone in hating it, and here's why.
Meme’s the Word
You know those viral internet images that are hilarious and sometimes stinging? They have their roots in the late 70s, directly coined by an Oxford zoologist who was inspired by geneticists, anthropologists, and ethologists in coming up with it.
Caveman in the Mirror: The Case for Our Closest Cousins.
Neanderthals are the original "missing link." That hypothesized link in the chain that connects us to our ever-more-apelike ancestors. Neanderthals have long been assumed to be "less than" human. In anthropological circles, even in lower level anthropology courses, that assumption has been under debate.
So…Just What is Anthropology, Anyway?
This post is a general overview of the science and four fields of American anthropology. It's a rework of an old post, and intended as a companion read to this video. It's a bit more specific than the video, so if you saw the video and want a bit more information without getting inundated by … Continue reading So…Just What is Anthropology, Anyway?
That Time I Got to See Jane Goodall
Sitting in a pretty packed auditorium, I reflected on the last couple of days. Some rather fortuitous Facebook browsing combined with the generosity of my old department chair/honors advisor, Mary Baker, as well as some of her colleagues who managed to get ahold of tickets before they were openly available to the public had … Continue reading That Time I Got to See Jane Goodall