Family unit

Topic: Family Composition

Source: My own experience and observations of my surroundings while growing up.

Relation: In chapter 5 of Cultural Anthro, we learned about the different compositions of family members within the Ju/wasi, Chinese, American, and Trobriander families.

Description: My immediate family is made up of my mother, my father and my two older brothers. After that comes my paternal grandparents and then my maternal grandparents. To my family grandparents are very important. When there are family meetings, family members all unite at my grandparent’s home. Other family members included are my aunts and uncle, my mother's brothers and sisters and my father's brothers and sisters, and their spouses and children.

Commentary/Analysis:There are different type of family compositions and my family is similar and at the same time different as the American family composition. I think families change when the grandchildren are older and have children. As the the children become parents the child's parent becomes a grandparent and then they develop a separate family unit.

Media's Portrayal of Magic Vs Contemporary practitioners of Magic

 Topic: Magic

Source: The many portrayals of magic in books and in movies, such as Harry Potter the book and movie series, Wizard of Waverly Place, and Lord of the Rings. Magicians who use tricks to amaze the public and call their tricks magic. In chapter fuor of Cultural Anthro by Robbins, The Metaphors of Contemporary Witchcraft and Magic and The Rituals of Contemporary Witchcraft and Magic.

Relation:In the media, magic is portrayed as a source of energy that can be used to defend and attack people or for the benefit of the person using magic. Magicians use their "magic" to entertain people, but in Cultural Anthro (pg 87-89) magic has a different meaning to practitioners.

Description: I have observed that in movies magic is a source of energy driven out of objects like wands and rings. In Harry Potter potions and spells were used to ward off evil characters. In Wizards of Waverly Place magic is used to solve personal issues or even entertain the characters. The media portrayal of magic is similar to contemporary magic in that they both use energy, either from themselves, the earth, or the universe. In contemporary practice of magic, "they emphasize natural foods, good health, and personal stability"(pg 88).



Commentary/Analysis: Some people are very judgmental when they hear someone say they practice magic or witchcraft. Many are not aware that others practice witchcraft, but it is not the type that is portrayed in the media.

That is so not funny.

Topic: Humor

Source:My observation of the use of sarcasm by young adults in public places.They seem to prefer a certain type of humor.

Relation:It relates to chapter four of Robbins book Cultural Anthro.There are many ways to interpret a joke. Different cultures have different ways to interpret humor. Humor is said to be a way for problems of everyday life to seem less threatening.

 “I feel so miserable without you, 

it's almost like having you here.“

-Stephen Bishop

Description:When i go to public places like the mall or ride the bus, I've observed the way people interact with one another. From what I have observed majority of jokes I hear are sarcastic. The more sarcastic ones are usually said by a young adult. They use a bitter tone and are a bit condescending. There is sometimes laughter or just an agreement between people that shows they understood or think the joke is funny. 

Commentary/Analysis: I suppose the jokes are not as bad as they sound. People have different humor and sarcasm is not meant to be taken seriously. Some jokes are a bit mean but not taken seriously by people who have a closer relationship. The close relationship allows them to understand each others humor.

Change of environment/Change of culture

Topic:Cultural Change

                                                                   My hometown

Source: Changing my environment and getting accustomed to a different culture. The town where I come from and Arcata are very different in environments and demographics.
Relation: One's environment can change the way people interact and adapt.In Cultural Antro, Robbins defines culture as "the meaning that people give to things, events, activities, and people".(pg 4) The way i view things has changed because my environment has changed.

Description: The town that i came from was very different from Arcata. In Arcata the air is much cleaner and it is easier to breath. The town I came from is called Wilmington, its population is predominantly Hispanic. It is surrounded by pollution and refineries. In Arcata people are more environmentally conscious as a result I have become more environmentally conscious.People in Arcata are much nicer so I've had to change the way I respond to people. I find myself saying Thank you more often. I like my hometown as much as i like Arcata but I have noticed a change in me and the way i speak now as opposed to when i lived in Wilmington.
 My new home:Arcata

Commentary/Analysis:  Just like i changed i think other cultures change. They change to adapt to their environment or because it is the norm. I changed to adapt to this culture and think I am still changing.

Cockfighting: it's a cultural thing.

Topic: Cultural Text (Balinese Cockfight)

Source:Robbins Richard,Cultural Anthro,pg 21-22

Relation:"The Balinese cockfight is above all about status,about the ranking of people...The Balinese cockfight is a text filled with meaning about status as the Balinese see it. Cocks represent men, or, more specifically, their owners." 

Description: In Bali there are certain cultural aspects that we may not understand. Such as the Balinese cockfight where two roosters of opposing villages go into battle till' death. In a circle men gather and place sharp knives on each roosters and make them fight each other. The surviving rooster is considered the winner. Geertz sees these fights as an art form, he believes "it tells something real about their lives in a way that doesn't directly affect their lives".The cockfighting are representing the men. The fight is usually a representation of status.

Commentary/Analysis: In some countries cockfighting is legal and seen as a sport where high amounts of money are at stake.Then there are other countries were cockfighting is illegal and seen as a cruel treatment of animals. A friend of mine completely disagrees with this practice. She does not care that it is a cultural thing, she says that animals shouldn't be treated in that way and that the roosters don't willingly fight each other. I question if it has lost its cultural significance and why the people bet on such things. I acknowledge this as a cultural event yet i still find it difficult to fully comprehend such actions.

Is that a Rat in your mouth?

Topic: Food

Source: As a young child, my mother and father liked to take me and my two older brothers on trips to visit family members out of the country. They would take us to the central part of Mexico. We would vist Guadalajara in Jalisco, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas. We would usually go into the small towns in which my distant family members lived. My mom preferred to visit Zacatecas where she spent most of her childhood. We visited the small town that my mom grew up in. It is home to around 200 people of low income and some agriculturist. There were hills and a lot of "green" surrounding that small town. There were cows, sheep, donkeys,and horses.

Relation: What one eats is also connected to their culture. Some people eat things that others would not. Many things are edible but we refuse them because it is not what we are accustomed to. A culture just like an environment can influence what goes in your mouth

Description:When I was about 4 or 5 my family and i went on a hiking trip in the hills of my mom's hometown. We picked "prickly pears" and "nopales". There were many obstacles up the hill such as rocks and trees. The rocks were usually home to snakes or rodents so we were careful not to disturb those creatures. Although we did not want to disturb the snakes my uncle wanted to hunt rats. We did not mind him hunting the rats since we were busy picking the cactus fruit. While we were picking fruit my uncle caught three rats. I have no idea how he managed to catch them because at that moment I was not interested. After our hike we went back to my aunt and uncles little house. My uncle lit the barbeque,then he gutted and took the fur off the rats. He barbequed the rats on a stick and then offered me and my siblings a stick. My brothers refused to eat it and i did not understand why. I was handed a stick and i began to eat my rat. To me the rat tasted like chicken. I did not understand why it was okay to eat rats in that town and why it was not okay to eat them in my hometown near Los Angeles.The town did not eat rat as a regular meal but it was usually a treat after a hunting trip. When i returned home I did not recall eating the rat. I believe my mother reminded me when I was around thirteen. I told others of what i had eaten and they looked at me in surprise or disgust.

Commentary/Analysis:I am not so sure i would eat a rat again because of all of the weird reactions I get when I tell people. If I ever do it would be in that small town of Zacatecas, although i do not think it will be the same since a lot of things have changed in that town.