Time to Start Looking Ahead to Anthropology in 2007
Today I received an email from another scholar calling for efforts to begin forming sessions for the 2007 Society for Applied Anthropology conference. Sounds good to me. I also need to begin the search for graduate schools for the fall of ’07. Maybe I can write a theoretical paper that discusses my potential dissertation work since I have no true university affiliation to conduct my own research.
The possible topics in anthropology would most likely be dealing with either Wal-Mart, obesity, cognitive anthropology, or some sort of medical anthropology work involving pharmaceutical drugs. As usual I have my research interests whittled down to around three topics. Somehow I need to get my focus pointed once and for all. Perhaps writing theoretical papers in one or more of these topics would help to solidify my interests.
Directions in Medical Anthropology
Tonight I moved closer to a thesis for continued graduate studies. By carefully considering theory and firsthand experience I sit poised to introduce a descriptive and prescriptive suggestion for the woes of capitali$tic society.
My medium-length term goal is to describe cultural factors influencing obesity in the U.S. and other capitalist-industrial societies. In this post I attempt to make a brief argument for the functional position of Phish tour enthusiasts.
One possible explanation for the behaviors that are observed among those seeking membership in Phish summer tour is the temporary medication of social ills. Individuals seeking a sense of meaning and fulfillment among those seeking similar goals fit well with this argument. The atmosphere that is provided serves to assuage basic components that are missing from the individuals’ lives. Beyond the medicating substances that each individual may partake in the “scene” often provides the feedback and cohesion of group solidarity that the inner being of humans seeks.
