American Anthropological Association, Handbook on Ethical Issues in Anthropology: www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/toc.htm
Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth: https://www.theasa.org
Digital Youth Research: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu
Energy and Digital Living presents ethnographic research around energy, digital media and everyday life in the UK homes: http://energyanddigitalliving.com
Ethnographic Video Online, Royal Anthropological Institute Teaching Edition: https://alexanderstreet.com/products/rai-teaching-edition
Luis Devin, anthropological and ethnomusicological fieldwork among hunters and gatherers (pygmies) and other peoples of Central Africa: www.luisdevin.com/home.php
Media Anthropology Network, European Association of Social Anthropologists: http://www.media-anthropology.net
Why We Post: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/why-we-post
Wishcrys: Crystal Abidin https://wishcrys.com
CHAPTER 3 The Body
Contents
2 Body Modifications and Decorations
4 Body modification in Western societies
8 Body image in Fiji
10 Ideal male body type, size: Symbolic power
11 Sexy bodies
12 Anthropological Theories of the Body
13 Symbolic Classification and the Body: The Body and Society
14 Handedness
16 Habitus
18 Conclusion
20 Key terms
Key issues and debates
How do humans use bodies to communicate differences between one another?
What are the meanings of body modification and body image?
What are the different anthropological theories about bodies?
How does the body reflect the values and beliefs of the wider society to which it belongs?
Chapter 1 explored the ways in which human beings evolved physically and the ways in which their evolved bodies have shaped culture. Anthropologists are also interested in the meanings and values that are attached to the body in different cultural settings. The body plays an important role in how we classify (put into categories) the world around us. This chapter looks at different relationships between the body and society. The body is seen to communicate a range of statuses, ranks and relationships. Bodies can be perceived as things to be beautified, fixed and adorned, and can be recognized, among other things, as male or female, black or white. They may convey national pride, as was the case during the football World Cup in Russia in 2018. Bodies can also communicate the effects of racism, neglect and abuse. Anthropologists have long been interested in ideas about the body. The anthropological literature and number of ethnographies on the body are vast. This chapter looks at some ways in which the body is studied in anthropology.
STOP & THINK
What should the human body look like?
What exercise should bodies do?
What is the shape of the perfect body? Is it the same for men and women?
Where do ideas of the ‘perfect body’ come from?
What do ideas about the body say about people’s notions of health, culture and identity?
Body Modifications and Decorations
All cultures paint, pierce, tattoo, reshape or decorate their bodies. Humans do not go out naked; they dress or decorate certain parts of their body to present themselves to other humans. Body decorations can communicate a person’s status in society, their identity and the differences between them and others. Body decorations and modification form a visual language through which humans navigate the world in which they live. However, not all cultures share the same values and beliefs,