The idea behind reflexivity is that the researcher (in this case, the anthropologist) should reflect on their identity and the role that this identity plays in the society that they are researching within. In other words, research in anthropology is not just about observing others, but also yourself.
In anthropology, as well as in geography and other disciplines, there is a concept of “Space” vs. “Place.”
Space is location, physical space and physical geography.
Place is what gives a space meaning, “personality” and a connection to a cultural or personal identity. It is the culturally ascribed meaning given to a space. It is the “vibe” that you get from a certain space, and it exists for a reason. … More Everyday Anthropology: Space vs. Place
One of the things I love most about the field of anthropology is the way it challenges concepts of borders. And it does so by reminding us that borders, like so many other concepts, are social constructs. … More Let’s Talk About Borders
The full title of this book is Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters. I first read this book for a Psychological Anthropology class when I was an undergrad, and I’ve been revisiting it every so often ever since then (thanks Dr. Davenport!). The are three main points in this … More Book Discussion: Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters
From August 2016 through December 2018 I was a student in the Applied Anthropology Master’s Program at the University of North Texas. For much of that time I was working on my graduate thesis research project and paper. The subject of my project was interesting and timely, so I thought I’d summarize it briefly (as … More My Graduate Research on Welcoming Communities and U.S. Citizenship
How timely is it that this article by Anne Helen Peterson on Buzzfeed was published while I’m working on my series about millennials killing things? The essay, titled “How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation,” is insightful, emotional, and in my opinion, spot-on. I highly recommend it. I may have to write my own essay … More An Informal Anthropological Perspective on Millennials Killing Things, Part 2
When I’m not sure what to write about, I can always count on the internet for plenty of random inspiration. One of my favorite online trends from the past couple of years is the idea that millennials (people aged approximately 18-30? 20-32?) are “killing” various things, usually by failing to spend their money. Being a … More An Informal Anthropological Perspective on Millennials Killing Things, Part 1
Back in 2014 I was a Junior in college preparing to go abroad for a semester in South Korea. Even though I was beyond excited, I was also nervous about having to adjust and live in a new place for six months. During that time I was taking a Linguistic Anthropology course, and the … More Attitude Adjustment: The Best Advice I Ever Received About Culture Shock
The Cultural Courier 