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Anthropology
by Brady Lewis

I took an anthropology class this last semester.  I didn’t really understand what I was getting into.  I didn’t know what anthropology was.  I actually had to look it up on the internet so as to know what I would be studying. 

I chose this class (Anthropology 111) for three reasons.  First was that it is a social behavior credit, which I needed.  Second was that it was a 100 level class, which means that it, in theory, should be easier than my other choices, such as Psychology 300.  But the main reason I took it was that it also counts as a cultural diversity credit.  That’s right; it fills two requirements for me.  It was so perfect. 

But I didn’t know what I would be doing.  What the hell is anthropology?  Some of you out there may be laughing at me for not knowing, but you are in the minority.  For that majority who has no idea where anthropology starts, click here.

Anthropology has four main fields:  physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology.  And over the course of the semester, I learned a great deal about each of them.  I learned a lot about anthropology, and I am a better person for it.  The class was very interesting in just about all aspects.  I recommend that everyone take at least a low level anthropology class as an elective.

However, toward the end of this class, the instructor (congrats on the promotion, by the way) started to talk about how anthropology is becoming very popular in the media.  She talked about how anthropology is everywhere today.

CSI shows are coming out of my ass.  I expect to see CSI:  Fargo soon enough.  These sorts of shows are almost all anthropology.  There are lots of other shows out there that have to do with forensics and crime scenes, and it is all anthropology.

She talked about Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider.  These movie franchises popularize archaeology, another aspect of anthropology.  Most everyone knows Indiana Jones.  They are very popular and successful movies.  And while Tomb Raider may not be as well known or popular or successful, most people in my generation recognize it.  Other archaeology references in the media include TV shows where sites are dug up, which apparently are big in Britain.

Medical mystery shows are also starting to pop up.  House is the best and most popular example of this.  This is physical anthropology as well. 

I’d make a joke about American Idol and cultural anthropology, but that would be way too easy.

Anyway, here is where she and I don’t agree.  She says that anthropology is everywhere.  I say that it really isn’t.

Think about it.  Do you like those TV shows and movies that I listed?  And did you know that they all fall under the category of anthropology?  How many other people is this true for? 

I love Indiana Jones.  I admit to watching CSI at times.  I mean, Spike TV has reruns of it all the time.  I’ve played Tomb Raider video games.  And I had no idea that these were in any way related to anthropology because I didn’t know what anthropology was.

Very rarely is the term "anthropology" used in any of these movies or shows.  And if no one knows what anthropology is, or that these things are part of it, how can it be popular?  It can’t.  I maintain that anthropology is not a big thing right now. 

In fact, there was a question on the final test that required us to write a short answer.  It asked how anthropology was viewed by the public based on shows like CSI and Indiana Jones and the like.  I wrote basically the same thing there.  Anthropology is not viewed by the public, period. 

And these shows should at least mention anthropology.  I would like anthropology to be more widely recognized.  It’s a very interesting subject as a whole.