In Praise of Popularization
It was a situation that is well-known to any sociocultural anthropologist in my country. Someone asks you what you do. You answer: “anthropology.” The inquirer replies: “that is bones, ain’t it?” Your response goes something like: “can be, but I do the sociocultural one.” The inquirer nods but you can read from his face that he is perplexed: “what exactly is that,” he asks. You attempt to dispel his impression that sociocultural anthropology is some kind of pseudo-mystical science that approaches human beings from a holistic point of view: “a combination of philosophy, sociology and history.” This time I did not expect the climax: “I see! So what do you think about our society at large today?” I suppose that among professionals would this question cause a lively amusement. But among general public is this question considered as real as is the fact that the Sun sets every evening. To borrow C. P. Snow’s expression - there are two cultures - one is represented by the profess...