Cultural anthropology

Cultural Anthropology is a cultural and social science that examines the people in his relationship to his culture; the term is used, however, in German-speaking differently: the folklore took the names Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology - anthropology ( ethnology ) in turn took over cultural anthropology according to the North American expression of cultural anthropology ( British: social anthropology ).

Cultural anthropologists investigate empirically, problem-oriented and contemporary issues, with the aim of development of comprehensive theoretical issues and concepts.

Folklore

The cultural anthropology developed from the folklore: 1970 formed up on the working meeting of the German Society of Folklore ( DGV ) in Falkenstein two positions relative to the scientific handling of the concept of culture. The trade representatives of the former Institute of Folklore in Tübingen, which had already been renamed at this time in the Institute for Empirical Cultural Studies, argued for sociology as a new model discipline. The representatives of the Institute in Frankfurt am Main, however, stressed the contextual proximity of folklore to ethnological disciplines such as ethnology and the Anglo-Saxon Cultural Anthropology. The majority concluded to be the first group, is now primarily understood within which culture as a model for regulation of everyday life.

In Frankfurt, we sought an intercultural comparative research in complex societies. The opposition of culture and everyday life was thus overridden. Culture is understood as everyday life and everyday life as a culture. The reorientation of the subject is reflected in 1974 in the name change down: From Folklore is Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology.

Concept of culture

The anthropological concept of culture includes both social braids and their manners and customs, as well as the production of technical aids, the man needs to be able to live in its environment. Culture is thus not set in opposition to civilization, but means the totality of the human environment. The man is seen simultaneously as a cultural creator and as a creature of the culture. The exchange between cultures is considered under the aspect of this interaction. This transnational cultures are also highlighted as subcultures.

In purposive-rational definitions culture is widely considered to be high culture, which follows certain laws. In value-rational definitions culture is seen as something comprehensive, meanings, actions and interpretations of the people are taken into account.