New student-led video released – ‘What is Anthropology?’

Student talking about anthropology in the biological anthropology lab

A new video featuring members of the School of Anthropology and Conservation discussing what anthropology means to them has been conceived, shot and edited by a group of undergraduate students in our recently refurbished biological anthropology lab.

In the short film, Professor Tracy Kivell asserts that, fundamentally, anthropology is the “study of humans” and discusses her introduction to the discipline. A number of students assist in exploring further what that ‘study of humans’ encompasses: human behaviour, society and culture, birth, death, and all the things that we go through in our lives.

A distinction is made between social anthropology, which goes much deeper into many of the underlying processes that shape our thoughts, and biological anthropology, which examines the origins of humankind in an evolutionary and behavioural context.

Ultimately, the film highlights the contemporary relevance of anthropology precisely due to its interest in where we come from and what makes us who we are.

The video can be viewed here.

Leave a Reply