My lecturer today showed us this video to show the awkwardness of the 'Three Age' transitions. I had to laugh; only a few days ago I had actually watched this while procrastinating looking at Mitchell and Webb clips. Brilliant.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Travel pictures #2
I spent a week in Wales with friends, where we were lucky enough to have unpredictably fine weather.
I've just finished my essay on kinship; a very interesting subject!
Saturday 28 January 2012
Travel pictures #1
I've been a little ill recently, and haven't found time to update. As I'm catching up on work (studying the concept of kinship at the moment), I've decided to upload some photos of mine from my travels. This first set is from Devon. Please do not reproduce them without my permission.
Monday 23 January 2012
Practical on bugs, seeds and... latrines.
Had a practical today in the lab which involved looking at a "Medieval turd" alongside other things. Also got to look at the Museum of Natural History's beetle and bug collection, and from a soil sample pick out insect and charred seed remains under the microscope.
Sunday 22 January 2012
Chinese New Year and the search for 'food identity'
With Chinese New Year coming up, I've been thinking about all the yummy Chinese food I'd be asking my mum for back home. This had me thinking about what we class as 'Chinese' food; or in fact, any nationality's food. It's a big part of their cultural identity, and it seems they're happy to maintain it as long as it's got a good image. Why shouldn't they? Wonton soup is an example of (for me anyway) an amazing invention...Yum... but I digress.
It seems in Britain that our culture lacks a 'food identity' beyond fish and chips and tea. It's a shame, because there are some great culinary combinations that British chefs have put forward and really excelled at creating (see the copious amount of foody programmes on TV, and some of the best (recognised) restaurants in the world are arguably are at home in Britain).
However, many of these dishes might use ingredients not native to England. Say aniseed for example. Or cinnamon (one of my favourite spices!). Or even pak choi (bok choy). Does that mean a dish that uses these can't be British? Or if a dish in India uses English apples - does that make it 'un-Indian'? Of course not - from the days of the empire, 'chicken tikka' is now recognised as an British invention (according to QI at any rate!), combining a readily available British meat and the spices of the Far East.
But safe to say if a dish has 'grown up' in a country, it is believed to belong to that country - a bit like people's identities. The difference is that someone who grows up in one country may feel more connected to another country by blood or culture - even if they've never lived there. But on the whole, your 'home' is where you grew up, even if you moved country later on and adopted a different culture. I think this is true of food and 'food identity', too. Aside, everyone has a food they grew up with which they call their 'home food'!
So this Chinese New Year, I think I'll pop down the road and get myself some noodles. After all, it's a refreshing taste of our culture's take on a long-established 'exotic' culture; a blend of British and Chinese - nothing could better suit someone of the same mix of heritage.
It seems in Britain that our culture lacks a 'food identity' beyond fish and chips and tea. It's a shame, because there are some great culinary combinations that British chefs have put forward and really excelled at creating (see the copious amount of foody programmes on TV, and some of the best (recognised) restaurants in the world are arguably are at home in Britain).
However, many of these dishes might use ingredients not native to England. Say aniseed for example. Or cinnamon (one of my favourite spices!). Or even pak choi (bok choy). Does that mean a dish that uses these can't be British? Or if a dish in India uses English apples - does that make it 'un-Indian'? Of course not - from the days of the empire, 'chicken tikka' is now recognised as an British invention (according to QI at any rate!), combining a readily available British meat and the spices of the Far East.
But safe to say if a dish has 'grown up' in a country, it is believed to belong to that country - a bit like people's identities. The difference is that someone who grows up in one country may feel more connected to another country by blood or culture - even if they've never lived there. But on the whole, your 'home' is where you grew up, even if you moved country later on and adopted a different culture. I think this is true of food and 'food identity', too. Aside, everyone has a food they grew up with which they call their 'home food'!
So this Chinese New Year, I think I'll pop down the road and get myself some noodles. After all, it's a refreshing taste of our culture's take on a long-established 'exotic' culture; a blend of British and Chinese - nothing could better suit someone of the same mix of heritage.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
'Human safaris'
I saw this story in the media the other day.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/14/andaman-jarawa-india-human-safari
This term, my first essay was on modern perspectives of 'primitive society'. I learnt about the origin of the theory of 'primitive society', and how now we shouldn't think of any society as 'primitive' or primeval, but as different societies and not in the sense that 'complex societies' are at the end of an evolutionary line from fictional 'primitive' ones. Yet, watching this video made me realise that in many parts of the world the quest for the image of 'primitive society' still occurs. Obviously, in this video the Jarawa people are not dancing in this instance as a tradition; they are doing it for food at the amusement of tourists. Any culturally aware tourist should learn to respect the culture that surrounds them, and it seems all too frequent that the 'human safari' approach is taken when looking at other cultures. Let's hope India takes some actions to protect the Jarawa's rights from these 'safaris', and that more progress in made in making people more culturally courteous.
It also reminded me of this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16295827
The prevalence of human zoos in the mid-1880s based on racial stereotyping. While modern anthropology has left all this behind, it appears the portrayal of other cultures and societies in the media and public thinking has some catching up to do.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/14/andaman-jarawa-india-human-safari
This term, my first essay was on modern perspectives of 'primitive society'. I learnt about the origin of the theory of 'primitive society', and how now we shouldn't think of any society as 'primitive' or primeval, but as different societies and not in the sense that 'complex societies' are at the end of an evolutionary line from fictional 'primitive' ones. Yet, watching this video made me realise that in many parts of the world the quest for the image of 'primitive society' still occurs. Obviously, in this video the Jarawa people are not dancing in this instance as a tradition; they are doing it for food at the amusement of tourists. Any culturally aware tourist should learn to respect the culture that surrounds them, and it seems all too frequent that the 'human safari' approach is taken when looking at other cultures. Let's hope India takes some actions to protect the Jarawa's rights from these 'safaris', and that more progress in made in making people more culturally courteous.
It also reminded me of this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16295827
The prevalence of human zoos in the mid-1880s based on racial stereotyping. While modern anthropology has left all this behind, it appears the portrayal of other cultures and societies in the media and public thinking has some catching up to do.
Monday 16 January 2012
The effect of attractive women on skateboards
Since being introduced to arch and anth in popular science, I've grown to love Dr Alice Roberts. Her book 'The Incredible Human Journey' is well worth a good read as an introduction to human origins, basic archaeological principle and examples of dips into cultures around the world. This is a great little video explaining the effect of attractive women on skateboards. Although it's not exactly scientifically accurate, it demonstrates her point very well visually. And with skateboards.
Monday 9 January 2012
New blog!
Welcome to Digging and Gigging. :-)
I'm an undergraduate studying BA Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford. I decided to create a blog to help those interested to discover more about these subjects, and to showcase the interesting things I come across related to the world of Arch and Anth.
This blog will also be of interest to anyone wishing to learn a little more about human culture, origins and practices. If you're a fan of Digging For Britain, Human Planet, or are just a little curious about our species (and their ancestors) - why not give this a read and dig up something new?
I'm an undergraduate studying BA Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Oxford. I decided to create a blog to help those interested to discover more about these subjects, and to showcase the interesting things I come across related to the world of Arch and Anth.
This blog will also be of interest to anyone wishing to learn a little more about human culture, origins and practices. If you're a fan of Digging For Britain, Human Planet, or are just a little curious about our species (and their ancestors) - why not give this a read and dig up something new?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)