Anthropology and unanswered questions

Does life throw little tests at you after you learn a new lesson? Is it just me? I was telling you on Tuesday that in therapy we talked about control and having patience with questions, asking them and leaving them unanswered. That's also how Anthropology works and the mindset you need when you start a research project.

Unlike Literature, which is an unchangeable piece of written work, Anthropology works with humans - Humans with certain experiences and feelings. So, as an Anthropologist, you take an action and contextualise it. You focus on what people think and experience, and then explain the larger mechanisms behind it. An example from our lecturer was that students sitting in class and listening to him can be contextualised as a form of capital exchange. In Literature, you take the theory, apply it to the text, and just explain how they work together.

It now makes sense how balancing your feelings can help balance your mind. And vice-versa. Interesting.