Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Anthropology
Symbolism + mythology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Symbol definition | something (image, character, gesture, word, act) that stands for something else. Involves a shared understanding about the meaning of certain words/attributes/objects |
| Word symbol definition | as a symbol you can read, as a sound wave you hear, composed of individuals characters (that could/are also be symbols) (“mark, token” from greek) |
| Symbol as basis of culture | foundational building blocks of culture , representing the same + specific thing by people of the same culture |
| “The sign” (sign, signifier, signified) | Ferdinand De Saussure - sign is the object/thing, signifier -the physical existence (sounds, image, word), signified - the mental concept |
| Icon vs. Index vs. Symbol | icon: Looks/sounds/feels like what it represents Index: points you to something else (what it reps) Symbol: connects to object thru culture + agreement of ppl |
| Symbol summary | refers to something else, displacement, arbitrary (chosen by culture, have no meaning otherwise), can contain multiple meanings ex. Pharaoh crook + flail; political punisher + caring leader/shepard |
| Circle/zero symbol | solar system, path of life, laberiyths for greeks, medicine wheels for ppl of the blackfoots, unity, nothing |
| Natural symbols | attributes in nature extended metaphorically or through associations for human meaning (ex. Features, elements, creatures, colors, human body) |
| Mary douglas on natural symbols | a cross cultural pan human pattern of symbols must be an impossibility vs a pursuit to seek commonalities ex. Mountains = abode of spirits/deities, rivers = path, leading to land of dead, change, caves = pathways, |
| Fire symbolism | destruction, danger, torture, transformation, purification |
| color symbolism | white = milk, sky, clay; red = blood, fire, ochre, black = feces, earth, charcoal |
| yin/yang meaning (dualism + monism) | yin = negative, female, night, passive, moon, intuitive Yang = positive, male, day, active, sun, logical |
| The associative mind | Connects something w other things in assoc, extend properties of things (colors) etc to other analogous connections |
| Metaphor definition - 2 diff things | assoc based on analogies between 2 objects ex. Arguement =stormy |
| Metonymy definition - thing context | assoc based on contiguity between 2 concepts ex we had a dish for food |
| Synecdoche definition - whole -part | substituting a part of something for the whole (ex ive got your back, ive got wheels now) |
| Irony definition - thing opposite | expressing meaning thru its opposite |
| Scales of symbols | ex. Ndembu milk tree, white sap of milk tree < human milk < breast < suckling of infants < mother child bond < family < Ndembu society |
| Tonantzin | aztec fertility goddess, very prominant- “mother of corn + mother earth” often a term for conflating numerous minor goddesses |
| Virgin of guadalupe | aztec goddess, indigenous resurgence, major symbol in mexican revolution; she is protrayed as “life-giving” shape of vulva |
| Symbols are key in ..? | mythology, belief structures, rituals, shamanism, magic + witchcraft, divination |
| Symbol Summary | key to culture, especially r culture, have layers of meaning that often extend to levels of initiation into r knowledge; visual symbols are the components of thinking thru mythical thought |
| Sun symbolism | light, gift giving, superior setting in the heavens, sunrise = birth, sunset = death |
| Moon symbolism | changes daily, appears + disapears (seasonality/change/ressurection) usually a goddess, relation to water/tides |
| Stars symbolism | isolated lights in darkness, spirits, multiplicity |
| Smoke symbolism | ries to the sky, interconnects realms, path of transformation |
| Animal symbolism + 2 main symbols | snakes + birds; spirits, guardians, totems, were-animals, omens, tricksters, taboo |
| Totemism animal symbolism | animal or bird that forms the often scared emblem of a lineage, clan, other social group or to an individual = sometimes just a symbol but sometimes special relation |
| Mythology definition | a structured sequence of symbols; a sacred story that provides the basis for r beliefs + practices; typically myths ex,apling the origin of world/humankind/tradition + explain dispositions in death |
| 2 modes of thought | logos = literal/logical/rational/scientific; mythos = not literal/often illogical/narritve/religious |
| Applications of both modes of thought | logos = eternal/physical reality; mythos = internal/mental reality; ancient greeks considered both essestial, equal to each other + complimentary |
| What are myths? | stories that involve personalities (human or animal) believed, no authors + about extraordinary events |
| Worldview definition | the way societies perceive + interpret their reality; provides an understanding of how world works, guidelines for thoughts + behaviors + explanations for origins/relationships/ends |
| Folktales definitions | fiction, meant to entertain; some supernatural elements, human or non-human characters; exist outside of time + place |
| Legends definitions | factual, based on real ppl/places/events; few to no supernatural elements; generally human; takes place recently in modern world |
| Myths defintion (vs folktales vs. legends) | fact as accepted in faith, source of authority in moral/ethical issues; many supernatural sacred elements; human and non human characters; takes place in remote past of this or other world |
| Types of myths | origin/creation; apocalyptic, trickster + hero |
| Examples of north american myths | world parents (sky father + earth mother) spider (weaving the world) creation thru conflict (prometheus stealing fire) |
| 4 approaches to the study of myth | evolutionary, functional, structural + analytical psychology |
| Evolutionary approach (to mythology) | James Frazer; maintains hierarchy of evolution from magic -> religion -> science; emphasise a common focus on fertility rites |
| Functional approach (to mythology) | Bronislaw Malinowski; myths function to rationalize rituals + provide a social charter |
| Structural approach (to mythology) | Claude Levi-strauss; myths represent the human mind in its purest form, formulating narritives out of imaginary things of their own creation; and reveal underlying values of a culture |
| Common structural opposititions in myths | good + evil; culture + nature; humanity + technology; male + female |
| Analytical psychology approach (to mythology) | Carl Jung; collective unconscious; mythic symbolism as representing a broader human interpretation of reality; helps in individuation setting one apart from persona + uncon. impulses |
| Narritive importance | for understanding ourselves as beings with pasts + futures + connecting memories from out pasts + aims for the future |
| Overall mythos + logos are good for... | explaining origins; navigating life, individuation, and providing guidelines + rationales for ritual |
Created by:
every_august
Popular Anthropology sets