Anthropology of Communication

Extract

[...] In other words, one must have a more critical look at one's own culture. Durkheim, on the other hand, is not the father of French sociology, he seeks and understands the structure of a society. He is interested in social facts what society pays attention to - ex: grossophobie, inclusivity, femicides) and therefore, he asserts that they can be quantified. Thus, it is in this way that we know where society is at. On the side of Levi Strauss, anthropology aims to better understand our world and to know who we are from the point of view of the other. [...]

[...] In fact, we observe communities with customs called 'bizarre'. We constantly judge the other in relation to what we know, in relation to us. There is also in this period, a fascination for the 'foreigner' because we do not understand how they live, communicate . The key concept of this era is the relativity of cultures. In other words, there is not just one custom, nor morals. A society advances while evolving and they are not governed by the same conventions, nor the same laws . [...]

[...] obligation). Social facts cross our societies and allow us to account for how a society functions (centres of interest?), to know where we are. And all of this contributes to the maintenance of the system (=functionalist vision). The structure of a society is how each person has a role that allows for the good functioning of the society. Its good functioning is allowed by a set of elements that is regulated according to laws, self-regulation (it finds its balance by itself) and the elements change within the structure. [...]

[...] The concept of cultural circle emerges. (=geographical ensemble that presents cultural and institutional similarities: these two currents converge. (itself and diffusionism)) Our culture will define how we communicate, how we will live without realizing it. From then on, the American school created by Frank Boas has the object of conducting research on cultures and histories. Basic personality: present in every culture as the ways of functioning, common codes, modes of life and rules that guide all our social activities. We need to be interested in customs, ways of being and doing, the way we dress, the type of language. [...]

[...] Anthropology is useful for other fields of the social sciences because there are common concepts. It's also the best way to change one's perspective on oneself. But it also allows us to look at our culture with a critical eye. It serves to avoid chrono-centrism the habit of judging past facts with our own values). In Great Britain, approaches are different, one is not interested in the same aspects of a society and one will prioritize the society as a whole (economy, political institutions, families, religions, arts?). [...]