The American Anthropological Association is celebrating today, so I decided to get a few of my peers in my cohort at University of Denver involved. I did this by asking each of them a simple question.

What has anthropology done for you as a human?

Katie (museum anthropology) "Anthropology has fundamentally changed the way I see things in everyday life. Once you realize to look for the 'negative spaces'-- or what people aren't saying just as much as what they are saying -- that is when you start to see the bigger picture. As much as I think it is silly how often the word 'holistic' is thrown around in anthropology, holism is probably the most important part of our discipline."

Helena (museum anthropoogy) "Anthropology has made me think about the world and relationships in new and interesting ways. (Also pretty sure, Ariel from the Little Mermaid was actually just an armchair anthropologist)"

Elinor (cultural/medical anthropology) "Being an anthropologist has opened my eyes to how subjective everything is: politics, science, education, research. Everything, even facts, are at one point interpreted by someone. Nothing exists in isolation. And existence depends on interpretation. This means that we, as anthropologists, have a great responsibility to examine, expose, and critically engage with these interpretations that are often the foundations of culture. I take that responsibility very seriously."

Andrew (archeology) "What I value most about anthropology is what it has given me by accident. Anthropology is the study of people. If you study people long enough, you become more of a person yourself. Being an anthropologist has made me a better listener, friend, and citizen of the world."

Emily/Me (cultural anthropology) "Anthropology has provided three very imoprtant things in my life: friends, the kind that are open to hard topics, that will explore the world and museums and ideas with you, and that have that good quick wit; awe: at the vastness of this world and its people and all the knoweldge there is; confidence, as an introvert fieldwork was intimidating...but then I realized that my quirks are my personality + people relate to those parts of me and trust that. Being transparent with participants and not being afraid to ask in the first place made me brave during three months of living alone abroad. And provided a much richer and more valuable field experience than I could have dreamt up on my own."

Why that Question?

Because anthropology is as much about the humans who are a part of the discipline as the humans we study. Anthropology molds humans who are in tune with the world around them and who want to share that beauty and knoweldge as they learn. I wanted to celebrate the humans of this department and engage with what a bunch of MA-level anrthropolgists feel anthropology has taught them in their own lives.

How are you celebrating? Our department is enjoying some ice cream together as we share these ideas.

Have a great day!

-Em + the University of Denver Department of Anthropology MA students/candidates

Enjoy the little slide show below (all photos by Emily Creek w assistance of Helena Sizemore)