20 Mark Q 1 - Examine the role of classification in human culture

System of organisation of people, places and things, shared by all humans. Is universally used and is crucial to human understanding of the world, events and each other.

Levi-Strauss;

• classification is universal
• human brain predisposes us to divide the world

A02 Evaluate:

• proved because classification is universal, yet how is different.
• e.g. japanese videogames let you choose character's blood type, much like astrological star signs in the western world.

Cultural Relativism;

• only way of truly understanding other cultures is through understanding their classification systems.

Rivers;

• examples of how classification affects Melanesian culture; their classification of life and death 'mate' affects their way of living.

Mary Douglas;

• ideas of dirt & purity varies.
• dirt is symbolic
• e.g. Hindu caste system; untouchables & Brahmin.

A02 Evaluate:

• can lead to discrimination because some groups will be prejudice
• e.g. development of race (AAA agress it was created to classify people in a negative way)