Applied AnthropologyWhat is Applied Anthropology? Applied Anthropology is the practical application of anthropological data, methodology, perspective and theory to asses and solve contemporary social problems.
Applied anthropology involves applying anthropology's holistic approach to researching the "other" and applies anthropology's four sub-fields, to solve practical problems. Applied anthropologists are involved with government, businesses, social, political and economic disciplines. These anthropologists provide a unique perspective to areas not previously considered relevant to anthropology. Applied anthropology can be reduced to four basic sub-fields; specified goals, corporate assignments, administrative program development and consultants as cultural brokers.
Traditional anthropology primarily focuses on tribal studies and dying or extinct peoples and cultures throughout history. Many, when asked what anthropology is, have little or no idea and give the stereo-typical analogy of Indiana Jones, an archaeologist studying relics of the past. However, that view is all too narrow and anthropology is much more than that. Anthropology since its heyday has evolved into a super-modern analytical ideology which can easily be adapted to solve life's contemporary problems by being multi-disciplinary and using theory from economics, history, psychology, sociology and numerous others by studying internal and external human motivations. Thus anthropology serves as an immortal applied philosophy.
Without direct acknowledgment “anthropology’s benefit is more likely to be felt as the indirect result of its gradual diffusion among persons having administrative responsibility, increasing their understanding of the situations with which they are dealing, than in direct recommendations on policy” (Sillitoe 2006, 8).
Applied anthropology is philosophy in action. As such many academics argue that applied anthropology contributes nothing as a discipline and it is often over looked. However in dealing with individuals on any level, a form of an anthropological skill set is utilized with varying degrees. In our hyper-connected contemporary world anthropology is one of many keys to break the Fordist ignorance of contemporary American capitalism. Fire the gatekeepers and be unique (Godin 2005 111-113).
References:
Sillitoe, Paul. The search for Relevance: A brief History of Applied Anthropology. “History and Anthropology”, vol. 17, 1 (March 2006)1-19.
Godin, Seth The Big Moo. Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable. 2005.
