Comments on: Anthropologist Franz Boas http://savageminds.org/2008/11/18/anthropologist-franz-boas/ Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog Fri, 25 May 2012 20:10:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ckelty http://savageminds.org/2008/11/18/anthropologist-franz-boas/comment-page-1/#comment-530647 ckelty Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:52:31 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1393#comment-530647 ahhhhhhhh. that is the most beautiful image ever. I LOVE FRANZ ahhhhhhhh. that is the most beautiful image ever.

I LOVE FRANZ

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]]> By: raggedrobin http://savageminds.org/2008/11/18/anthropologist-franz-boas/comment-page-1/#comment-530585 raggedrobin Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:38:50 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1393#comment-530585 Oh, right, no html - the article is here: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756045-1,00.html?iid=perma_share Oh, right, no html – the article is here:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756045-1,00.html?iid=perma_share

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]]> By: raggedrobin http://savageminds.org/2008/11/18/anthropologist-franz-boas/comment-page-1/#comment-530575 raggedrobin Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:33:23 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1393#comment-530575 That's great. And here's the accompanying article. Some bits on the gesture study: In Washington last week one of the world's most distinguished anthropologists told the National Academy of Sciences about an Englishman who was raised in Italy and married a Jewess. In consequence this Englishman's gestures gradually became half Italian, half Jewish.… Postures and gesticulations are good indicators of motor habits. To sort out cultural from biological factors, therefore, Dr. Boas made motion pictures of conversational gestures of different nationalities, projected the frames slowly one after another, translated the movements. Typical findings: "Italian gestures are characterized by a wide, symmetrical sweep from the shoulders. Furthermore they are symbolic. The gestures have definite meanings, many of which can be traced back to antiquity. . . . Dr. Boas' conclusion from all this is direct and simple : motor habits are cultural, not biological. That’s great. And here’s the accompanying article.

Some bits on the gesture study:
In Washington last week one of the world’s most distinguished anthropologists told the National Academy of Sciences about an Englishman who was raised in Italy and married a Jewess. In consequence this Englishman’s gestures gradually became half Italian, half Jewish.…
Postures and gesticulations are good indicators of motor habits. To sort out cultural from biological factors, therefore, Dr. Boas made motion pictures of conversational gestures of different nationalities, projected the frames slowly one after another, translated the movements. Typical findings:
“Italian gestures are characterized by a wide, symmetrical sweep from the shoulders. Furthermore they are symbolic. The gestures have definite meanings, many of which can be traced back to antiquity. . . .
Dr. Boas’ conclusion from all this is direct and simple : motor habits are cultural, not biological.

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