ARCL 103 Final Exam note

docx

School

University of British Columbia *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

103

Subject

Anthropology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by SargentThunderBison15

ARCL 103 - Final Exam Questions Week 1 - Introduction Q: How does the earth being feminine show that orthodox archaeology is based around a Western colonial framework? A: The Earth is viewed as a feminine entity that sustains life and provides resources; referred to as ‘Mother Earth’. Activities, such as excavation, are considered masculine and the language used to describe excavation would be considered harassment if used to describe a person. Indigenous people treat the Earth and land with respect whereas Westerners see it as a resource to exploit. Q: How is the treatment of women and femininity in Indiana Jones reflected in the quotes from archaeologists in Week 1? A: The Indiana Jones Movie portrays the only two significant female characters as being in love with Indiana Jones with no significance beyond being his love interest. Marion is portrayed as a strong female character only when displaying proficiency in masculine activities. As the movie progresses, Marion is seen as a ‘Damsel in Distress’ having to rely on Jones for everything and is further sexualized. The film perpetuates the ownership of women, the idea of femininity as inherently weak, and objectifies women at every opportunity. Q: What is settler-colonialism and what did it lead to? A: Settler-colonialism is an ongoing system relying on exploitation for capital and nation building which has led to social boundaries and personal ownership in the economic system. Q: How is settler-colonialism similar to, and different from colonialism? A: Settler-colonialism is a type of colonialism that erases Indigenous practices and identities to replace them with settler practices and identities. Eurocentrism drives settler-colonialism and leads to erasure of Indigenous identities through assimilation and genocide with the notion that Western European cultures and people are the standard. Week 2 - Archaeology in Pop Culture Q: Why is ‘primitive’ a colonial concept? A: The term was first used to describe Indigenous peoples as they had different technologies and belief systems from Europeans which led Europeans to believe that Indigenous people were ‘behind’ and had never advanced. The term was often used to justify the invasion of the New World and the forced assimilation of Indigenous groups into European culture. Q: How did Darwin’s Theory of Evolution contribute to the exclusion of indigenous and other

worldviews from western science, along with the categorization of non-western societies as ‘others’? A: Darwin’s term ‘survival of the fittest’ was originally used to refer to how many children a creature had but was later misused by Western countries to justify colonialism, racism, and other awful actions. The idea of speciation differentiation was used to support the idea that people were better or worse based on ethnicity or phenotypes. Western individualism and dominance overpowered society which led to the dismissal of Indigenous science as invalid or wrong as it doesn’t comply with the standards set by Western science. This allowed Western society to dominate many different fields and determine what counts as the ‘truth’. Q: Who came up with the theory that displays the 3 phases of cultural evolution in 1877? What are those 3 phases called? A: Lewis Henry Morgan came up with the theory of the 3 phases of cultural evolution in 1877. Those 3 phases are savagery, barbarism, and civilization (in order). Q: How did Seidmann show that Indiana Jones and other archaeology-based pieces of pop culture could be beneficial to archaeology as a discipline? A: In Seidmann’s article, 35.29% of people have been exposed to archaeology through archaeology-related media such as Indiana Jones. Although the sample size is too small to draw conclusions, it is possible that exposure to archaeology-related media can lead to more interest in the discipline which could bring a wider range of perspectives to the field. Q: Why would university archaeology classes, like UBC’s ARCL103, still show movies like Indiana Jones despite its incorrect depiction of reality as an archaeologist? A: Seidmann believes that Indiana Jones is still used as an example in archaeology classes because it provides a common understanding for students who may be familiar with the character. The contrast between the movie and real archaeology can help students learn about the proper methodology of discovery and recovery, as well as provide a forum to discuss problematic behavior in archaeology. By discussing problematic behavior that may arise from the movie and Westernized perspectives, students can learn about the destructive impact of cultural theft and gain a better understanding of the proper way to approach archaeology. Q: What are the side effects of having the public engage with archaeology? A:

Pros: Cons: Archaeologists are more likely to examine the consequences of their excavations if they have a connection to the land and local people. When archaeology is shared and increases public interest, this often promotes a different type of research and fieldwork that praises ‘cool’ discoveries over more scientifically and historically significant ones. Local groups can have a shared sense of community Local archaeological discoveries can open economic opportunities based on tourism if the artifacts are not transported to a secondary location. Public interests in archaeology, especially in youth, can increase academic inspirations and teach new skills and knowledge. Q: What are Lewis Henry Morgan’s 3 phases of cultural evolution, and why is this model problematic? A: Lewis Henry Morgan’s 3 phases of cultural evolution were: - First stage - Savagery: characterized by hunting, gathering and the use of fire, bows, pottery - Second stage - Barbarism: characterized by the domestication of animals, the introduction of of agriculture and metal-working - Third stage - Civilization: characterized by the development of the alphabet and writing system, as well as industrialization This model is problematic as it implies inferiority of past cultures and lifestyles, and also relies on Eurocentric definitions of things such as ‘agriculture’ thus enforcing settler-colonialism. Q: Why do people believe that society is more advanced now than in the past? A: People believe that we are advancing at an unprecedented rate due to constant changes in technology and genetics; however, this does not prove that we are smarter or more advanced than people in the past. Many people today believe we are more advanced because of our access to modern technologies. Week 3 - History of the Archaeology/Anthropology as Science Q: Why is western science often people’s only perception of science?

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

A: Western science originated in Europe and was initially based on religious beliefs. The Doctrine of Discovery had labeled Indigenous peoples as inferior for not believing in God and discredits Indigenous science. Western science has a very specific way of packaging and displaying information, which reinforces the idea that it is the only valid form of science. Q: How does the Western definition of archaeology and scientific method contradict and exclude Indigenous methods? A: Indigenous science emphasizes that development and cultures are non-linear and only looking at change is not the only accumulation of knowledge, but the understanding of it. Western science focuses on discovering information and using a restrictive scientific method which limits understanding. Indigenous science allows for a wider variety of questions and interpretations which recognizes a non-linear perspective on history. Western science tends to harm existing communities whereas Indigenous science avoids it. Q: What was the name of the legal document issued by the Church in 1493. What was its purpose? A: The Doctrine of Discovery was the legal document issued by the Church in 1493. Its purpose was to deny Indigenous rights and allow Western explorers the power to claim the land and people. Q: Why is science an inherently political discipline? A: Science has been used by Western powers to justify their domination over other groups with Christianity as the foundation. This legacy continues today, as science is still being used as a tool of bigotry against transgender and neurodivergent groups along with the continued marginalization of people of color, especially Indigenous people. Q: What type of pluralism is least likely to pose a threat to Boghassian’s epistemic objectivism? A: The pluralism known as ‘Limited Cross-Fertilization’ assimilates relevant sources from autonomous epistemic traditions into pre-existing Western archaeological framework which reduces the threat to objectivism. Q: How does identity play into how people are included/excluded from spaces? A: Identity influences the spaces that one is allowed in and the experiences they have. One’s experiences are viewed through the lenses of their identity which affects how they are excluded or included from different spaces. The anthropology and archaeology disciplines were shaped by Western, white, cisgender men but it is important to include and promote people from diverse identities in the disciplines moving forward. Week 4 - Goals of Archaeology Q: Why is a researcher's standpoint important? A: Researcher's standpoint includes their epistemology, ontology, axiology, and their social

position. It is important to recognize your standpoint since personal beliefs are shaped by your environment. For example, in a western society, our standpoint will be influenced by western epistemology, which supports binaries, categorizations, and a transactional relationship with the land (e.g Earth as feminine & empty vessel). These ideas will be built into their standpoint because of the society they live in and will come to them 'naturally'. Q: How did the Tucson Garbage Project look at things in both an archaeological and systemic context? A: The Tuscon project looked at not only material objects, but at the circumstances in which they were bought and/or used, and who were involved. In an archeological context, the project noticed the care people took in washing out containers differed if they were being thrown out/recycled, where people bought things relative to where they lived, and also looked at how organic materials were preserved. As for a systematic context, they analyzed the economic stresses that impacted how things were consumed, peoples self-reporting of alcohol (and by extension the societal view on alcohol consumption), and how peoples understanding of food storage and consumption affected what they threw away Week 5 - Q: Why are there so many different ‘types’ of archaeology? A: Archaeological research Week 11 - Reconstruction as Understanding Q: How can Harris Matrix help one interpret and understand stratigraphic profile? A: The Harris Matrix is a chronological flow chart that organizes different layers, with the most recent displayed at the top and the oldest at the bottom. It is useful for interpreting uneven and non-linear layers which can be easily understood by a wide range of people.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

ARCL 103 Final Exam note

Related Documents