I was first drawn to anthropology owing to the various ways in which it evaluates humanity, from the scientific notions of evolution, to societal and cultural norms. The subject explores the relationship between society and the world around us, for example the reasons for and rules defining British weather talk, therefore making it a relevant and fascinating subject.
From a young age I avidly watched documentaries on diverse, current subjects. I found these more interesting than normal TV as they related to real life and they provided a wide perspective on life. For example Louis Theroux’s studies on ‘Law and Disorder in ..’ and his in-depth investigations of extremist groups via his method of participant observation. Theroux would participate in these groups to gain knowledge of them whilst ensuring that he largely remained an observer. The episode on Neo-Nazis in America surprised me by revealing that people have such bizarre beliefs. Even though America has to a large extent moved beyond its racist history, there are still elements of the previous ideology in American society today. I developed further enthusiasm for anthropology when I wrote my Extended Project which questioned whether the USA is to blame for widespread and ultra-violent Latino gang culture in Central America. I found it interesting that events, which at the time may seem minor, can have such a huge impact on people and society. For example the racism that Latinos suffered in the USA led to Central America becoming one of the most violent and gang-torn areas in the world, most notably Honduras, which has a murder rate more than double that of next placed Venezuela and far higher than that of Jamaica, El Salvador and South Africa which are all renowned for their violence. Another example would be attempts by law enforcement to reduce violence, which have subsequently led to gangs becoming more violent. For example various Governments, notably those in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador introduced repressive and provocative laws coined ‘Mano Dura’ in an attempt to reduce the rapidly growing gang culture. This consequently drove the gangs further underground and led to ‘tit-for-tat’ violence between them and the local police. Understanding why things happen and the domino effect that leads to societies changing and new cultures forming is one of the most appealing factors of anthropology for me.
As part of my A levels we studied The Handmaid´s Tale which considered the impact of societal and cultural norms. I wrote english coursework which included a review of Lonely Londoners, a novel which highlighted the differences between Londoners and Caribbean immigrants and their co-existence. We also see this in people born in different cities also. As Kate Fox explains in her book Watching the English, 'Londoners' have a very specific set of rules and customs by which they live differing significantly to those who live in the north of England for example.
Learning Spanish encouraged me to research South American culture further. The Latino world is so distinct from and different to that of Europe. When learning about things like Latin festivals, such as Inti Raymi, where thousands of Peruvians come together in the ancient Inca town of Cusco to celebrate the Sun God, my interest in the Spanish language and Spanish world grew. Writing my Extended Project furthered my passion for Latin America and propelled me into taking a year off in South and Central America to discover and experience this culture first hand. I will be travelling around Latin America for 6 months, a cultural immersion that will enrich and inform my studies going forward.
I would love to increase my knowledge of anthropology as being able to understand society and the reasons behind human behaviour is what fascinates me. My life experiences have shown me just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and through further study of this subject, I would hope to deepen my knowledge in this area.