Gift Giving Guide 22: Ideas for Your Favorite Anthropologists/Anthropology Interest Persons

Biannually I dedicate blog posts to the presentation of gifts that may be suitable for anthropologists or individuals interested in anthropology (any and all subfields).  As we are nearing the end of the traditional semester and quickly approaching graduation season it seems appropriate to dedicate a post to this very topic.  Below are some of the latest additions to the list of gift ideas that may be appropriate for your anthropologically interested person.

 

Archaeology

Do you dig an archaeologist or an individual interested in archaeology?  (Get it?!)  If you are in the northern hemisphere then the archaeologists are more than likely working in the lab as the weather conditions may not be favorable for more extensive fieldwork.  An archaeological themed mug with a bit of humor may be what you need!  This one from MeteorcatMugs is an excellent option.

Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropologists study modern cultures, specifically the people and their belief systems, norms, values, behaviors, and more.  While there are various types of gift options for these anthropologists one thing is certain: they often have to wear something before going out into the field and while out in it.  This unisex and customizable shirt may be an optimal option, particularly as it features several of the important anthropological theorists who have helped shape this anthropological subfield.  You can purchase it through Revise and Resubmit.

Biological Anthropology

Biological anthropology is the broadest of the four subfields, meaning there are numerous gifting options for anyone with an interest in biological anthropology.  Despite this we suggest socks.  Why?  Because who does not like socks?  Even if they do not like socks they may need them, so these funky unisex Neanderthal socks will keep the giftee's feet warm while they look smart, like our Neanderthal ancestors.  These are available through Historical Socks. 

Linguistic Anthropology

Language and culture are the jams of linguistic anthropologists.  There are various ways that these anthropologists can and do conduct their studies, be it transcribing recordings or conducting interviews in the field.  While this gift idea is not conducive to all aspects of linguistic anthropological work this IPA themed blanket might be something cozy and warm for them to curl up in.  This blanket can be customized (color wise) to meet the needs of the linguistic anthropologist while they work-be it while they listen, transcribe, or think.  It is available through VT Stuttering Therapy.

Spotlight on Students: Origins and Meanings of American Idioms

 This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students. Students were given the opportunity to research and identify the origins and meanings of time of a specific American phrase that they selected. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts. Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

 

Source: Google Images

By: Kayuuyor Okolo

Among the numerous phrases made available to us, the idiom that caught my attention is “fool’s gold.” It stood out to me because gold happens to be one of my favorite colors. Aside from that, I had pondered on what it meant. I sat down quietly trying to make a reasonable guess on what this phrase could possibly mean. I did not think it was a smart idea for a fool to be in possession of something as precious as gold.

I gave in to my curiosity and decided to conduct research. I found out that it had an in-depth explanation for the reason it had been called that name. Further research revealed that it had two aspects to it: first, it is an idiomatic expression and one of the earth’s most abundant sulfide compounds. In addition to what has been said, the term “Fool’s gold also known as pyrite had been originally derived from what many prospectors had mistaken to be gold due to its shiny metallic luster and yellow coloring” (Cochrane, 2023). Pyrite is also the Greek name for fire because it can create sparks for starting a fire when struck with a metal or stone and even if it had been around for 2.9 billion years. It was first discovered by Dr. Jonathan Jacobo in 1432. The term reflects deceit, that is, how easily people can be deceived into thinking they have found gold when they actually have pyrite.

The idiomatic phrase became existent and popularized in the 19th century. It was first used to describe a mineral that looked like gold but is nearly worthless. In recent times, it has been adopted by the investment industry and is often used to describe investments that seemed promising and flashy but are ultimately worthless.

Based on my research, the meaning did not necessarily change; it just became popularized and adopted by the investment industry. They have a whole theory on “Fool’s gold”, and this concept describes cryptocurrencies that lose their values easily. According to Chen,” The name seemed particularly fitting to critics who saw cryptocurrencies as false currencies, just as fool's gold is false gold” (Chen, 2022).

 

WORKS CITED

Gasdia-Cochrane, Marlene. “Pyrite: The Real Story behind ‘Fool’s Gold.’” Advancing Mining, 6 Feb. 2023, www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/pyrite-the-real-story-behind-fools-gold/#:~:text=Pyrite%20is%20called%20%E2%80%9CFool’s%20Gold,a%20piece%20of%20unglazed%20porcelain.

“10 Facts about Pyrite ‘Fools Gold.’” TheGlobalStone, Elena Patrova, 4 Apr. 2018, theglobalstone.com/blogs/news/10-facts-about-pyrite-fools-gold#:~:text=1%20Pyrite%20was%20discovered%20by,a%20means%20of%20producing%20fire.

Chen, James. “Fool’s Gold: Meaning, Avoiding Bad Investments, Grammar.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 26 Apr. 2022, www.investopedia.com/terms/f/foolsgold.asp#:~:text=Fool’s%20gold%20was%20often%20found,and%20lack%20of%20industrial%20utility.

 

Source: English Grammar

 

By: Cierra Hein

The American phrase that I chose is “in the pink.” The reason why I chose this phrase is because it is my favorite color. The phrase "in the pink" dates back to the 1500s when a version of the saying appeared in Shakespeare’s classic, Romeo and Juliet.  It is said in part of one of the scenes with the line, “the very pink of courtesy.” In the 1500s it was used differently than it is now; back then it meant a remarkable example. It was also used to express exceptional fashion peaks. "In the pink" used now is an expression that expresses excellent health, fitness, and happiness. It can also mean that the finances in a company or economy are doing really well.  Before I did research on this phrase, I thought that the American phrase "in the pink" meant something similar to the phrases “in the clear” or “in the good.” I could just be saying that because I like the color pink, so for me the color means all things good and clear. Now that I have done more research on the phrase, I can say that I was fairly close to the correct definition. The American phrase "in the pink" has changed from the 15^th century to the 21st century because people have noticed the rosy complexion in people's face when they are healthy and happy. I would say that the meaning of the phrase "in the pink" says that our culture has gotten more relaxed in English statements or phrases. We have taken something that meant remarkable examples or fashion peaks to the literal color of our skin when people are happy or healthy.

 

Works Cited:

Collins Online Dictionary | Definitions, Thesaurus and Translations, www.collinsdictionary.com/us/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.

Kenton, Will. “In the Pink: Meaning of the Slang Investing Term.” Investopedia, Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/terms/i/inthepink.asp. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.

Staying in the Pink of Health | Mount Alvernia Hospital Singapore, mtalvernia.sg/education/staying-in-the-pink-of-health/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.

 

 

Spotlight on Students: Origins and Meanings of American Idioms

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students. Students were given the opportunity to research and identify the origins and meanings of time of a specific American phrase that they selected. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts. Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

 

Source: Google Images

By: Dymynd Mayes

The phrase I decided on was the Golden Rule. I chose this because I live my everyday life by this phrase. I have applied it to many aspects of my life, such as school, work, and sports. I feel as though at school and work I apply this by being kind to coworkers, customers, classmates, as well as my professors because in my experience it is reciprocated. In sports, I apply this by not getting upset if I lose a game, and if I win, to not be boastful. I think that the Golden Rule means to treat others as you want to be treated. The Golden Rule comes from a scripture in the Bible precept in the Gospel of Matthew (7:12) “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2024). This is the Christian belief to treat others as you would treat yourself. As the years went on, this interpretation was used throughout history to develop a moral code for others. In recent years, this Golden Rule still holds the same meaning, and in the aspect of sports it means: “Demonstrating sportsmanship requires showing respect for the game, yourself, your teammates, your opponents, and the referees, judges and other officials needed to have a game” (Reed, 2013). The change in this meaning hardly shifts when it comes to sports but still has the same beliefs. I feel as though the meaning of this rule says that we take into consideration our impacts on others and that we are morally aware of how to treat others no matter their background, and reciprocity is an aspect in our everyday lives.  

Bibliographical Reference 

Encyclopedia Britannica, T. E. of. (2024, August 14). Golden rule. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Golden-Rule

Reed, K. (2013, February 27). Sportsmanship: The golden rule of sports. League of Fans. https://www.leagueoffans.org/2013/02/22/sportsmanship-the-golden-rule-of-sports/#:~:text=Sportsmanship%20is%20the%20Golden%20Rule%20of%20sports.%20It%E2%80%99s,out%20the%20best%20in%20yourself%2C%20and%20vice%20ver

Source: Google Images

 

By: Alexander Johnson I

 

The phrase I chose to research is "red herring". I chose this because I know red herrings aren't a type of fish, and I wanted to know how we got the saying. Before doing research, I already had a good idea of what it meant. Although, there are two definitions. When reading, red herrings are used to misdirect the reader and/or protagonist. It may seem like an important detail when it is first introduced, but ultimately has nothing to do with solving the mystery or problem at hand (Constantine, 2023). In rhetoric, it is "when the arguer diverts the attention of the reader or listener by changing the subject to a different but sometimes subtly related one." (Hurley, 2015). 

The first use of the phrase was attributed to William Cobbet in 1807. At the time, newspapers had reported Napoleon's defeat, but it was too early to say. Cobbet saw it as the media trying to distract the public from other important issues. He compared the premature report to using the smell of smoked herrings (which turned red) to distract dogs from another scent (Constantine, 2023).

Red herring's definition and even connotation have remained very close to the original use over 200 years ago. A recent example of a similar situation was when the usual social media sites (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) provided lots of coverage of Trump's arrest and things related to that, but there was little coverage over the Supreme Court case that gave the president criminal immunity in his official acts. Official acts remain unclearly defined from unofficial acts, which functionally puts the president above the law. 

References

Constantine, L. (2023). The origin of the red herring and its place in literature. Crimereads.com. https://crimereads.com/liv-constantine-red-herring-origins/

Hurley, P. J. (2015). Logic the essentials. Cengage Learning. 

Spotlight on Students: A Discussion on Cultural Appropriation

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students. Students were given the opportunity to research and identify an example of cultural appropriation and explain how the cultural elements could be appreciated instead. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts. Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments. 

Photograph of a Croissant (Google Images)

By: Francesca Tucci-Haack

A lot of people around the world think that the “croissant” is French but it was invented in Vienna, Austria. In 1683, the Austrian army won against the Ottoman Turks and to celebrate their victory, they created the croissant, whose “shape evokes the symbol of the Ottoman flag” (CNBPF*, Google Arts & Culture). Its original name is the “kipferl” and is believed to be made for the first time in the 13th century. The Austrian archduchess Marie-Antoinette introduced it in France after marrying the king Louis XVI in 1770 (because she didn’t like French food). The croissant was popularized in the 1830s with the installation of a Viennese bakery in Paris founded by the Austrian August Zang, which sold Austrian pastries. It became a success very quickly. But in 1915, Sylvain Claudius Goy made the first French version of the croissant by using a “laminated yeast dough” (Marissa Xiong, ICE**) instead of a brioche dough.

 

By definition, cultural appropriation “takes place when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, art. cultural appropriation). In the case of the croissant, French people adopted an Austrian cultural element and decided to promote it as a French pastry. Indeed, the French government even named it as “the national French product in 1920” (Marissa Xiong, ICE). Over the years, the croissant became even more popular. It is sold in every French bakery as a French invention. It represents France across the world. When I ask an American citizen the first thing they think about France, one of the first words that comes to their mind is “croissant”. This example shows how well done and well hid this cultural appropriation is that nobody thinks that it is not French.

 

We can appreciate the culture without appropriating it. The croissant became an element of French culinary heritage but its origins are foreign. French people can appreciate the croissant but should not say that this is a national product. French people could benefit from Austrian and Turkish cultures but they should show appreciation. 

 

*CNBPF : Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie et Boulangeries-Pâtisseries Françaises

**ICE : Institute of Culinary Education

 

Sources : 

• Marissa Xiong (2024, January, 30th), A Brief History of the Croissant, Institute of Culinary Education , https://artsandculture.google.com/story/MQXhoPJBiV0Fxg?hl=fr

• Bakery’s national confederation and the French Bakery (Confédération Nationale de la Boulangerie et Boulangeries-Pâtisseries Françaises), Le Croissant, Google Arts and Culture, https://www.ice.edu/blog/brief-history-croissant#:~:text=Across%20various%20accounts%20of%20croissant,roll%20common%20in%20Central%20Europe

• The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, What is Cultural Appropriation ?, Britannica https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-cultural-appropriation

 

Spotlight on Students: A Discussion on Cultural Appropriation

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students. Students were given the opportunity to research and identify an example of cultural appropriation and explain how the cultural elements could be appreciated instead. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts. Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

Original Instagram post from Adele showing her Bantu knots and Jamaican flag bikini.

By: Jaaden Campbell

An example of cultural appropriation is when Adele posted an Instagram photo wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican flag bikini for the Notting Hill Carnival. Adele believed that not dressing up in Jamaican cultural attire for the event made it difficult to understand why you were going to the event. This is an example of cultural appropriation because, in the beginning, Adele didn’t understand that being a white woman in Jamaican attire and wearing Bantu knots was wrong; later on, she realized the significance of the Jamaican flag and why she shouldn’t be wearing it due to the fact that the flag represents the independence and identity of the country, she also learned through the criticism from fans that Bantu knots were to protect Afro hair as a result of this her hair was ruined.

Adele was able to appreciate Jamaican and African American hairstyles by becoming informed on how to appreciate the culture without appropriating it. She learned that just being there and not wearing clothes or hairstyles for the culture was showing her appreciation. Adele explained in an interview on the subject by explaining why she never took the post down, explaining that she kept the post up to show she was not hiding her mistake; instead, she embraced her wrong doings by not hiding it. Adele helped by educating herself on the systemic challenges Black people face regularly. To further show her understanding, she spoke about the 2017 Grammys and how Beyoncé’s Lemonade album should have won the award due to the impact it had on the culture of women and African Americans.

Citation: 

Mulenga, Natasha. “Adele on Cultural Appropriation: ‘I Didn’t Read the F**king Room.’” Teen Vogue, Teen Vogue, 8 Oct. 2021, www.teenvogue.com/story/adele-addressed-cultural-appropriation-backlash-bantu-knots-vogue-covers.

 

Scene from the episode of Superstore titled, "Shots and Salsa."

 

By: Cierra Hein

While going over Chapter 2 in anthropology we have learned the words cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. There is a difference between these two words, and it is wise to understand the difference between the two. Cultural appreciation is the act of learning, understanding, and respecting another culture in a way that is not for personal gain. Cultural appropriation is “the unilateral decision of one social group to take control over the symbols, practices or objects of another” (Welsch et al. 45). An example of cultural appropriation is someone forcing or imitating an accent. A situation where this happened was in a show called Superstore, in season one, episode three, the employees were told to sell some salsa for a charity event. The charity even was for kids in an orphanage in Mexico. While trying to sell the salsa the employees were putting on a Latino accent to make the sale more “authentic” (“Shots and Salsa” 14:34). This is cultural appropriation because imitating or adopting one’s accent without respect or understanding the culture is disrespectful and can lead to stereotyping. This can lead to negative and simplistic views on this culture. A good example of cultural appreciation without appropriating would have been if the employees of Superstore had learned and shared facts of the Latino culture and the historical process of making salsa. Instead of the employees just faking a Latino accent they could have put more interest in the charity event and what it was for. Employees could have been more enthusiastic about the sale without adopting an accent if they had known it was for a charity.

 

Works Cited

“Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation.” Wisconsin 4-H, 4h.extension.wisc.edu/opportunities/projects/expressive-arts/cultural-appreciation/#:~:text=Cultural%20Appreciation%5B1%5D&text=If%20your%20goal%20is%20to,from%20someone%20in%20that%20culture.

“Shots sand Salsa.” Superstore: Season 1, Episode 3, written by Justin Spitzer, Jack Kukoda, and Jeny Batten, directed by Ruben Fleischer, Spitzer Holding Company, Universal Television, and The District, 2015

Welsch, Robert L. et al. Anthropology: Asking Questions about Human Origins, Diversity, and Culture. 1^st ed., Oxford University Press, 2016