CULTURE AND ECOLOGY

 

ECOLOGY

·         Ecology is a biological term for the interaction of organisms and their environment which includes other organisms

·         Cultural ecology is a theoretical approach that attempts to explain similarities and differences in culture in relation to environment.

·         Focus on how the material culture or technology related to the basic survival of human beings.

·         The cultural ecology theory considers:

How environmental forces influences humans

How human activities affect the biosphere and the earth itself

·         Julian Steward founded the theory of cultural ecology in his book :THE THEORY OF CULTURAL CHANGE (1955)

·         His idea of culture and ecology was influenced by Franz Boas

·         It was an effort to understand the effect of environment upon culture.

·         Using Stewards approach anthropologists compare cultures in order to determine

What factors influence similar cultural development/similar adaptation?

·         In cultural ecology      :                       Culture adapts

Individual not adapts

Culture is super organic (taken from A. Kroeber)

·         Components of adaptation

·    Ability of the culture to survive – Related to cultural core: Technology, knowledge, labor, family, organizations etc used to collect resources from the environment.

·         Examination of behaviour associated with cultural core

·         How social institutions and belief systems are impacted by subsistence related behaviour.

·         Cultural similarities explained in terms of adaptation to similar environment

·         Cultural changes due to changing environmental conditions

·         Thus culture in similar environment may have similar adaptation

·         all adaptations are short lived and constantly adjust to local conditions

·         Changes can either elaborate on earlier cultures or result in entirely new ones

·         Cultural ecology asserts that how human thoughts and ideologies are the determinant factors on the ways they became adaptive towards their environment

·         This can be examined through POTLATCH tradition practices by the natives of the Pacific coast. In this tradition they distribute their goods and belongings as the cultural tradition of people of Pacific coast are encouraged by the society.

·         Culture is shaped by the physical and biological properties of the area or region in which it is developed

·         Environment determines human behaviour patterns.

·         Example: Tsembaga who live in the interior of New Guinea are horticulturalist

·         The function of pigs in this culture is very important

·         The pigs are seldom eaten

·         They serve other useful functions

·         Pigs keep residential areas clean by consuming garbage and they help prepare the soil for planting by rooting in it.

·         Pigs required a minimum of maintenance and serve the Tsembaga as janitors and as cultivating machines.

·         When pigs herd grow large pigs must be fed human ration

·         With pig overpopulation the Tsembaga elaborate a cycle of rituals involving the slaughter of larger number of surplus pigs.

·         Cultural ecology focus on how cultural belief and practices helps human populations adapt to their environments and live within the means of their ecosystem

·         Ecology interprets cultural practices in terms of their long term role in helping humans adapt to their environment

·         Example: About 10 million Yaks live on the Tibetan Plateau and are therefore commonly used in Tibetan culture for transportation and subsistence.

·         North American Eskimos live in small family groups rather than a large community because they live in harsh environment that offers very few natural resources such as food. Technology such as the bow, spears and traps are readily available to the Eskimos but their effectiveness is severely limited by the environment

·         Marvin Harris talks about the Cow worship in India and cited it as an example of culture and ecological relations

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