Tourism, Global Change, and Applied Anthropology

Before our modern world, there were millions of people who inhabited the land before us. These native people had their own religions, practices, and ways of life. As time progressed and colonization took over, many native groups lost their identity and individuality. Assimilation can be described as a group changing or erasing the culture of another group. This can be seen through the spread of Christianity in the early years of colonization. Colonizers thought less of the native people and, instead of respecting their land and beliefs, decided to change them to ones that they deemed more normal. Today, we see fewer and fewer early human practices, which is partly because of colonization and racism. The study of anthropology is important because it focuses on the protection, learning, and understanding of early human practices and those that are different from our own. The ethnosphere can be described as an all-encompassing term for humanity and human knowledge. Humans are very diverse and have changed and evolved drastically through time. We are more alike than we may seem. The understanding and learning of our human past will better help us in our future. 

An artist's depiction of the Treaty of Waitangi. “The Signing of the Treaty of Waitangi” by Ōriwa Haddon/Archives New Zealand/flickr, CC BY 2.0) 

Indigenous Anthropology 

Anthropology on the Ground 

In the article "Cultivating Modern Farms Using Ancient Lessons" by Chelsea Fisher, the author writes about past human agricultural practices and how they can help our modern farms. For example, Zuni farmers made irrigation systems to combat low rainfall, and the farmers of Ghana planted grains that were resistant to water shortages. Due to intense climate change today, bringing less rainfall for crops, farmers are using the practices of ancient societies. By using these ancient practices, we today can learn more about the people from our past. Although not always sustainable, like how the Maya used controlled burns as an act of protest against modern land owners, overall, these practices can lead us to more available resources. 

Chinampa farming Karl Weule, Leitfaden der Voelkerkunde/Wikimedia Commons

Cultivating Modern Farms Using Ancient Methods 

In the video, "Cultural Activist Anthropology" by USF Anthropology, the video explains how a USF applied anthropologist, Dr. Angela Steusse, became interested in the works of anthropology. She was interested in research that enabled social change. She studied Latin American immigration to the south and how their world impacted the local economy and the struggles they faced. Another applied anthropologist, Dr. Antoinette Jackson, studied national parks and civil rights under President Jimmy Carter. There are many different perspectives when studying anthropology, but they all come together to further the understanding and learning og both past and present humans. 

Malawian women discussing economic possibilities. 

Cultural Activist Anthropology

At the Panama City Publishing Company Museum in St.Andrews, the company was able to grant Panama City economic success through the use of tourism. In their newspaper, The Panama City Pilot, George and Lillian West were able to use the printing press to mass-produce their newspaper and send it to all parts of the United States. The newspaper included imagery and detailed explanations of the city's attractions and views of the bay. The newspaper was able to grab the attention of people all over the country, attracting visitors to the area. Our economy today still heavily relies on tourism. 

Panama City Publishing Company Museum