African American Religious Beliefs On Death And Dying
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This 10 page paper discusses religious beliefs and cultural customs regarding death and dying among the African American population. First, it would be wrong to lump all African Americans together and assume they all share the same religious and cultural beliefs and use the same procedures when it comes to death and dying. That would be a gross stereotypical conclusion. There are a multitude of variables that influence any family's beliefs and customs. This essay reports the comments and discussions of a number of persons who belong to this racial community and/or who have studied the topics. There are some core beliefs that may be practiced by many of the black population, such as spirituality, the circle of life and the collective decision making process. These are explained and discussed. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: PGblkd.rtf

African Marriage Customs
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A 5 page research paper that explores different customs in practice. Lobola, bridewealth and customary laws are discussed and specific examples given from the Turkana people. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: Afrmcust.wps

African Mythology: The Influences and the Commonalities
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A 10 page overview of the many factors which have affected the African oral tradition. Definitions of such critical terms as mythology and culture are provided in a discussion of the manner in which oral tradition has changed over time. The influence on Europeans in bother altering oral tradition and misinterpreting it is noted and a brief review of the common elements found in many African stories is provided. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: PPafrMyt.rtf

Agricultural and Architectural: Commonalities of Locorotonda, Bari, Italy & the Amish of Pennsylvania
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(5pp) . It is easy to look at differences, whether they are between people or trees. It is more challenging to look for the elements that could be shared. Or we might also search for similar factors, or basic conditions that prompt the similarities. This discussion will examine two diverse groups of people and find that a connection to the land through architecture, and the unique buildings they put on the land, has kept two groups, miles apart in a similar comparison circle. First we shall consider the residents of Locorontonda, Bari Provence, in the boot-heel of Italy. Then we shall look at the Amish of Pennsylvania Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: BBitamsh.doc

Alland & Sutton/ Using History
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A 5 page research paper that examines two books: David E. Sutton's Memories Cast in Stone: The Relevance of the Past in Everyday Life and Alexander and Sonia Alland's Crisis and Commitment: The Life History of a French Social Movement. Each book shows how the people use their history as a guide and an inspiration for coping with current crisis. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khaa&s.wps

Alternative Perspectives
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Learning about the world includes learning about what has been 'left out' because of the current interpretation of cultural importance. This 10 page paper explores a few of the alternative concepts to what is commonly believed in today's world. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: KTaideas.wps

Altruism & Proving The Theory of Kin Selection
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A 4 page analytical examination of animal / insect altruism and the theory of kin selection first presented in the 1960's by Dr. W. Hamilton. The writer evidences the validity of kin selection through a discussion of honeybees, spadefoot tadpoles, etc; Good case examples are provided and excellent biological reference is included. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: Kinselec.wps

Alzheimer's And Cultural Anthropology
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7 pages in length. Within the fundamental framework of human culture exists a dichotomy of anthropological applications that ultimately form man's existence and outlook. These divergent elements help bring to light the very essence of what it means to be part of a particular society based solely upon one's cultural understanding. It is important for the one to understand that there exist myriad philosophies by which people live their lives. These philosophies help maintain order and a sense of direction that otherwise would merely drift in subconscious thought, which also helps to apply a modicum of understanding to the concept of meaning. These fundamental principles of cultural anthropology provide the concepts of how people incorporate certain occurrences throughout their daily existence. The relationship that exists between Alzheimer's and cultural anthropology clearly illustrates the manner by which one's physical existence is often dependent upon the constricting components of culture. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TLCalzh.wps

America Is No Longer A Melting Pot
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5 pages in length. It has long been said that the United States of America is a vast melting pot of various races, religions and heritages that make it one of the most culturally diverse populations in all the world. This blending of such culture has been credited with bringing societies closer together and allowing people to understand and accept other lifestyles other than their own. The writer discusses why this is no longer true; that while America may still house the greatest variety of peoples, it is no longer an educational or cultural melting pot. No additional sources cited.
Filename: Meltpot3.wps

American Culture/The Changing South
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A 6 page essay that draws on an essay, "What is Happiness?" by John Ciardi. The writer argues that "happiness" has always been part of the American Dream. However, as John Ciardi in his essay "What is Happiness?" points out, this term has proven difficult to define. At one point in the culture of the Southeast, "happiness" was equated with the perpetuation of a culture that was seriously flawed. In the nineteenth century, southeastern portion of the United States had a distinctive culture that differentiated it from the rest of the country. The writer outlines some of the characteristics of Southern culture and relates this to Ciardi's essay. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khamclso.rtf

An Anthropological View of Ghosts
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This 6 page paper uses a case study of possession as a springboard for discussion. Ghosts in society as well as religion are issues of focus. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: SA712gst.rtf

An Anthropological View of Oscar Lewis’ “The Children of Sanchez: Autobiography of a Mexican Family”
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A 5 page overview of the lives and circumstances of five members of a poor Mexican family in Mexico City in the 1960s. Plagued by poverty, the challenges of living in the corrupt and unpredictable environment of one of the world’s largest cities, and just the incredibly fragile relations which occur within a typical family, the Sanchez family walks on tedious grounds in most aspects of their daily lives. This paper examines the attitudes of each of the family members from an anthropological perspective and attempts to answer the question as to whether it is fate that shapes their lives or their own actions. The author also points out that Lewis’ anthropological method is now considered outdated and possibly even deleterious by contemporary anthropologists. No additional sources are listed.
Filename: PPsanchz.rtf

An Archaeological Investigation into Poverty Point: Native American Earthworks
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A 5 page paper exploring the societal importance of this massive series of prehistoric earthworks which overlook the Mississippi River swamplands in northeastern Louisiana. The author of this paper explores the construction techniques employed at the site and the problems which are encountered when archaeologists try to interpret its meaning. This paper contends that manner in which the earthworks at Poverty Point were constructed stands in testament to its tremendous importance to the people that built the site and the diverse material culture of the site indicates it was associated with a tremendous trade network. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: PPnaMnd2.rtf

An Interview with My Grandmother: Changes Through Time
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A 6 page discussion of the changes which have been experienced in family structure, technology, educational expectations, and society as a whole between the life of a woman born in the 1920s, her daughter, and her granddaughter. The author utilizes the views of her grandmother to illustrate the declining societal mores which characterize our contemporary world. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: PPeldBio.rtf

An Introduction to the Traditional Culture of the Creek Indians
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A 15 page discussion of the culture and social interaction which characterizes these Southeastern Native Americans. While the Creeks still maintain a distinctive culture today, their culture and social interactions (just as have those of all other Native American groups) have changed over time. This paper examines the Creeks as they were shortly after contact with Europeans and observes that, while their culture has changed in some respects, they remain a distinctive cultural group even today. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Filename: PPnaCrk2.rtf

AN OVERVIEW OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
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This paper provides a definition and overview of cultural anthropology, as well as a comparison with other scientific disciplines. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: MTanthro.rtf

Analysis of a Margaret Mead Article
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This 3 page paper analyzes an article that Margaret Mead wrote, arguing that war is an invention. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: HVMgMead.rtf