ANTH100 Assignment 3

Observation from Assignment 1 Anthropological concept Concept definition (include an APA formatted reference) How does this concept fit with, or explain, your observation? “The mall attracts a diverse mix of individuals. Families with young children can be seen browsing through the few local hole- in-the-wall toy stores, while couples walk around hand in hand, exploring the different shops.” Affinity Defined as a kinship link created by marriage, such as the bond between a man and his wife and her family (in-laws). People who have an affinity relationship with each other are "affines" O’Neil, D. (2012). Cultural AnthropologyTerms. https://www.palomar.edu/anthro/tutorials/cglossary.htm The mall can be seen as a cultural focal point that serves to intrigue different groups of people, each with their interests and hobbies. The families and young children playing and shopping in toy stores show a deep understanding of family bonding. The toy stores serve as the medium for these families, reflecting their shared affinity towards child-focused activities. “As I pass by a Chick-fil-A I overhear a conversation between three friends. They discuss their plans (Rites of passage cont.) Rites of passage (Rites of passage cont.) Defined as the ritual ceremonies intended to mark the transition from one phase of life to another. O’Neil, D. (2012). Cultural AnthropologyTerms. https://www.palomar.edu/anthro/tutorials/cglossary.htm (Rites of passage cont.) Rites of passage are often associated with teenagers. In this case, the teens’ friend plan to visit haunted houses can be viewed as rite of passage. (Rites of passage cont.)

for the weekend, eagerly sharing their excitement about going to multiple haunted houses, one being a local favorite called “Dark Woods”. They're very excited and filled with anticipation and nervous about this adventure, their gestures animated and expressive. Stating things like “Oh my god I'm such a baby I'm going to cry. I HATE clowns!” (rites of passage cont.) They are willing to place themselves in fear and discomfort, possibly trying to prove their bravery. Their excitement and eagerness suggest that this is a big event for the other teens in the area and for them as well, their gestures and language further accentuate the importance of this experience. Overall, this observation can be understood as a rite within social bonding and personal development. (Rites of passage cont.) “From what I could piece together. I was able to determine it seemed something was going on with one of the classrooms flooding (Linguistics cont.) Linguistics (Linguistics cont.) Defined as the comparative study of the function, structure, and history of languages and the communication process in general. Linguistics is also referred to as linguistic anthropology. (Linguistics cont.) Based on Linguistics principles I as the observer am making an educated guess based on what information I was able to gather and (Linguistics cont.)

design. [...] The halls are lined with a variety of stores, ranging from popular Aeropostale and Buckle to other unique specialty shops” public with the express goal of better catering to a consumer’s specific tastes. Forte, M. (n.d.). Introduction to Antropology and Sociology . ANS 110 Glossary for anthropology and sociology. http://www.openanthropology.org/ANS110/glossary.html be focused to the variety of stores in Mall St. Vincent. Popular stores like Aeropostale and Buckle indicate that the mall serves the mainstream markets that prefer well-known brands. These consumers might value current trends and brands to receive recognition and the guarantee of the amazing quality that comes with said brands. The unique shops throughout the mall show that they also cater to a more off-brand market that seeks out unique, specialized goods. These consumers might in turn

value individuality, uniqueness, and the understanding that you can find products that are not available in mainstream stores. Assignment 3: Ethnographic Analysis