Question 1

Why do people believe in things that cannot be proven?

Accepted Answer

Beliefs are often reinforced and shaped by cultural and social factors, such as language, ritual, and myth. These factors create a sense of shared identity and community, and can be especially powerful in influencing beliefs that cannot be proven by empirical evidence.

Answer: D
 Human beings have a fundamental desire for meaning and purpose, which often leads them to believe in things that go beyond the natural world. Beliefs in God, the afterlife, and other supernatural phenomena provide a sense of comfort, hope, and transcendence that many people find appealing.

Question 2

Sapphire mining in northern Madagascar takes place in the territory of the Ambondromifehy.The Ambondromifehy doubt that sapphires are used as jewellery and speculate that they are used in the making of electronics,military vehicles,and even bombs.This seems to be a strange understanding;what is the best explanation offered by anthropologists?

Accepted Answer

C) Anthropologists suggest that people use their existing beliefs and worldviews to make sense of things that are beyond their direct knowledge or experience. This helps explain why the Ambondromifehy might have such a unique perspective on the use of sapphires.

Question 3

When speaking to someone else about a conversation we had,we might say that "She attacked my argument,and I had to defend my position." When we do this,what is the best explanation for what we are doing?

Accepted Answer

By using the language of attack and defense, we are extending the meaning of the conversation and framing it as a battle of ideas. We are trying to convey the nature of the dialogue in a way that helps the other person understand what happened.

Question 4

Because people grow up in difference cultural contexts,they often do not realize that many belief and practices are connected to a wider belief system.Euro-Canadian parents would likely see setting and enforcing a bedtime for children as part of being a good parent.The Dene Tha of northern Alberta would tend to see this as a sign of being an irresponsible parent.Why is that?

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions that the Dene Tha have a strong belief in personal autonomy and self-learning, which would make them view setting and enforcing a bedtime for children as contrary to nature. There is no mention of beliefs about the importance of sleep or performing chores at night.

Question 5

What is totemism?

Accepted Answer

Totemism is the belief in the spiritual connection between humans and a physical symbol, often an animal or plant, which serves as a representation for a particular group or clan. It is not necessarily focused on the worship of totem poles specifically, nor is it the earliest known form of religion. While it may involve primitive beliefs, it is not necessarily limited to them.

Question 6

What is a Hamatsa in the Kwakwaka′wakw culture?

Accepted Answer

A Hamatsa refers to a dancer initiate in Kwakwaka′wakw culture. They are an important part of the Winter Ceremony, during which they perform dance rituals representing the act of hunting and capturing the spirit of a cannibalistic creature. The Hamatsa are believed to be possessed by this spirit during their performances.

Question 7

Which of these best demonstrates the relationship of symbolic actions to the key metaphor of the Kwakwaka′wakw?

Accepted Answer

The key metaphor of the Kwakwaka′wakw is the idea of transformation or change, and the use of birds as symbols represents this idea. The use of large open mouths and beaks of birds in art is a symbolic representation of transformation, as birds change from eggs to fully formed creatures with beaks capable of eating and communicating. This symbol is a direct representation of the key metaphor and is therefore the best choice. The other options may be important aspects of Kwakwaka′wakw culture, but they do not directly relate to the key metaphor in the same way.

Question 8

Witchcraft might be viewed as irrational,but it remains an important cultural belief in many parts of the world.Why does this belief remain important?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Witchcraft might be viewed as irrational,but it...

Question 9

How did Aleister Crowley,one of the founders of modern magic and witchcraft,see each tarot card?

Accepted Answer

Crowley viewed each tarot card as a living being, imbued with its own unique energy and significance, reflecting his belief in the cards' mystical and symbolic power.

Question 10

How does the key metaphor of the Kwakwaka′wakw influence their interpretation of children's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The key metaphor of the Kwakwaka′wakw, which likens children's hunger to a wild animal that must be tamed, influences their interpretation of children's behavior by suggesting that if children's hunger is not properly managed, it can lead to issues within the family. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of guiding and controlling children's natural impulses for the harmony and well-being of the family unit.

Question 11

Why are anthropologists interested in the study of myths?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are anthropologists interested in the study...

Question 12

Because people grow up in different cultural contexts,they often do not realize that many belief and practices are connected to a wider belief system.Which of these is NOT an accurate explanation of a belief?

Accepted Answer

The Mi′kmaq belief about people coming from the Milky Way is not accurately described in relation to their wider belief system. The other options (A, B, D) correctly relate specific cultural beliefs to their broader belief systems.

Question 13

What are "key scenarios"?

Accepted Answer

Key scenarios refer to stories or myths that portray cultural values and beliefs. These narratives often depict important events, characters, and ideas that are considered significant to a particular culture. They may be used to transmit cultural knowledge, promote social norms, or establish a sense of identity and belonging among members of the community.

Question 14

In the Kwakwaka′wakw Hamatsa (or cannibal)dance,the members of the Cannibal Society confront a cannibal and are bitten,but eventually succeed in enticing the Hamatsa to enter the house.If these rituals are a symbolic representation of reality,then which statement is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The ritual of the Kwakwaka′wakw Hamatsa dance is believed to represent the possibility of transforming all members of the society into moral human beings. The members are initially confronted and bitten by the cannibal, but eventually succeed in winning over the Hamatsa and bringing them into the community, suggesting that even those who engage in immoral behavior can be transformed and integrated into society. This concept of transformation and the potential for moral change is a key aspect of the Kwakwaka′wakw worldview and is an important message that is conveyed through this ritual.

Question 15

Where do the metaphors through which the Kwakwaka′wakw understand and describe their life come from?

Accepted Answer

The Kwakwaka′wakw metaphors come from eating, where feelings, social relationships, and the environment are all compared to different elements of a feast. For example, the potlatch feast represents the social and economic relationships between groups, and the distribution of food represents the exchange of goods and services.

Question 16

What is NOT a function of rituals?

Accepted Answer

Rituals are typically not intended to bring about a change in world view; they are more about enacting metaphors, setting aside everyday life, and creating special feelings.

Question 17

What are "key metaphors"?

Accepted Answer

Key metaphors are domains from which metaphors are borrowed extensively, serving as a source for understanding and interpreting various aspects of life and culture.

Question 18

Which of the following is the best general definition of a symbolic action?

Accepted Answer

A symbolic action is an activity or behavior that is performed by a group of people to convey a shared meaning or message. This action is often performed in a way that is dramatic or ceremonial, and it is intended to symbolize a particular idea or value that is important to the group. Symbolic actions can take many different forms, ranging from public protests to religious ceremonies, but they all share the characteristic of using performance or behavior to communicate a message.

Question 19

Why do the Kwakwaka′wakw believe they need to control hunger in their society?

Accepted Answer

The Kwakwaka′wakw believe that controlling hunger within their society helps to solve problems of greed, conflict, and child-rearing, leading to a more harmonious community.

Question 20

According to Jean-Guy Goulet's study of the Dene Tha in northern Alberta,what do the Dene believe is the only true knowledge?

Accepted Answer

According to Jean-Guy Goulet's study, the Dene Tha in northern Alberta believe that personal knowledge gained through experience and observation is the only true knowledge. This is contrasted with knowledge gained through books or teachings, which may not be applicable in real-life situations.

Quiz 3: The Social and Cultural Construction of Reality