The Human Condition

Complements of the LA Times

"The human condition." Lets all raise our hands if we've heard this phrase before. I have and I know some of my readers out there have as well. No...its not looking at humans or their bones (as the picture above may lead one to believe) and determining their condition. The human condition examines what it is to be human in today's world. It strips away class, race, and what ever other labels or markers we give to one another, leaving only one behind...human. It invokes deep thought and study on issues such as the meaning of life, the constant need to seek happiness and pleasure, and death. (And no...if you came here for the answer to that pesky meaning of life question, I don't have one for you. I believe everyone has their own meaning that they must find. No two are exactly alike.)

So where am I going with this? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Fun huh? This is just something I found myself thinking about today as I made my way through my normal routine (since apparently, my brain has nothing better to do.) I do not study the human condition. I will leave the brilliance of that field to people who actually go to school for it. However, I do think about it from time to time. My main tract of thought this morning revolved around one single topic that spans all humans, no matter their point of origin, their "racial" classification (quote marks because, as a disclaimer, I don't believe in the concept of race...its a social construct...but that's a soapbox rant for another post), and/or their economic status. That topic is survival.

As we have gone from one time to another, one generation to another, the survival needs of humans change. There was a time when all humans had to think about was how to safely cross the open grass plains of Africa without becoming some hungry lions meal, so they could get to the food, water or shelter on the other side. The survival instincts we first developed standing at the edge of those forests looking out over the grass are still with us today. But how do we use them?

Each culture, each society, each person, uses their need to survive in different ways. For some survival is wealth, for others its the simple life. Some people need world class food cooked by world class food stars others can pluck a carrot from the ground and eat it, dirt and all. In some locations survival can mean making it a block from your house to school without being shot in a drive by, in others its making sure you have your bear spray on you at all times. We each adapt to our situations, to our environments. These adaptations are not set. They change as we change, they adjust as we move along earths mighty surface. We adapt, as we have for hundreds of thousands of years.

As I struggle with my own sense of survival, my own sense of being a human amongst 7 billion others, I can't help but think about what it means to survive in our world today. Is it harder being alive today then a thousand years ago, or easier? Are we getting smarter or dumber? (I had at least one professor in college who swore humans had reached peak intelligence several generations ago.) Is our sense of survival and our need to continue our lives and the lives of our children as strong today as it was when we first walked upright? I can't answer these questions, which in and of it's self is frustrating. I'm an answers kinda gal, so nothing ticks me off more than when my brain comes up with a new impossible to answer question. I do know however that no matter what my situation may be, there are others who are far, far less fortunate than I, who struggle to survive in ways I could never begin to imagine. We must remind ourselves that even though we are all individuals and each of our lives will take a different path, for better or for worse, we must live on this planet together, as one people, one species. We will never overcome our cultural differences but we can exercise tolerance towards each other without the world coming to an end.

Small town marketing 101

Stevenson, WA (Picture from columbiariverimages.com)

Hood River, OR (Picture from gonorthwest.com)

I'm about to get very critical of the small town that I live in so we will see how this goes. Don't hate me for my honesty. I understand that this is me comparing Stevenson to Hood River again but I just can't help it. I've been to Hood River twice this last weekend and I noticed some things that made me want to rant a bit about storefront appearance.

The Columbia River Gorge is known for basically two things, outdoor extreme sports and natural beauty as far as the eye can see. We are where the adventure seeking crowd come to when they want to have a little fun. This is true of both Stevenson and Hood River. This last weekend, after we screened our movie (which was amazing by the way and got huge laughs) my husband and I wondered around the downtown shopping district of Hood River. As I walked down the street and gazed into the windows I realized that Hood River has learned something that Stevenson has not. The stores along the downtown strip (a larger version of what we have in Stevenson) have a cohesiveness about them that caters perfectly to the demographic they are trying to attract. The strip is lined with stores that are earthy in appearance yet clean and simplistic. Most of them are not to cluttered and all of the window displays entice the passerby to peak inside at what they may have to offer for the shoppers latest adventure. It's as though all of the shop owners got together and decided that that was the appearance they wanted everyone to achieve. And who knows, perhaps there's some city code or ordinance that says it has to be that way. All I know is that when you walk down the main shopping strip of Hood River it is oddly calming despite the heavy traffic and large crowds. You feel a sense of still being connected to nature without actually being in it and you are not overwhelmed by crowded shops with no clear direction on what they are selling. In Stevenson, this is not the case.

The main street of Stevenson is riddled with little stores. All of them (except one) are your usual mom and pop type of place...a chain store snuck in a few years back but they are attempting to blend in which I am thankful for. Out of all the stores only four come to mind as actually maintaining the same type of air as those stores in Hood River. The main feel you get when driving downtown Stevenson is that there is a Hodge podge of stores selling many different things attempting to attract many different types of customers. Don't get me wrong. I love Stevenson and I am especially fond of our little downtown. To me it is something you might find on the front of a post card. However, with a lagging economy and a struggle to attract new businesses and investors in our community I think that something can be said for storefront presence. When a community displays clear cohesiveness and gets rid of the clutter it makes it seem like it has its act together. Kinda like you can clean your front room and straighten the dinning room but if the rest of the house is messy it is still an unattractive place to be. I believe that if you are going to run a business and know that you are going to be on prime real estate you should have the drive and the desire to create a presence that is reflective of the community and of the type of people the community attracts. That being said...Stevenson is still home and I do love it here. This is mainly to serve as an example for others who may read and want to know how they can better dress their stores or shops for success. If your gonna exist in a small town who's tourism industry is based around nature, your store needs to reflect that energy.

Speaking Teen...

It's been real busy 'round the work site lately. We are currently looking at and assessing current community outreach activities and working with a teen prevention group to create community appropriate materials. The teen program is by far one of my favorites. There is a 9 year gap between me and high school and I tell ya what...the times have changed! The teens teach me new things all the time, for better or for worse. For instance, I have recently realized that you can use the word "like" as many times in a sentence as it will fit. Without our teen group though there would be no way we could successfully reach that community. Yeah...I know what your thinking...I can speak teen. Uhh...no. Unless your a teen, you can't speak or understand their language or culture.

This is why I love using Anthropology in my outreach work. I know that the best way to reach this group with our message is to go directly to them and hear from them what they need or want. Its called "meeting them where their at." The teen years are a tough time. Not just because of hormones but also because of other things. For instance, teens are in what we anthropologists call the "liminal phase." What is this liminal phase, you ask? Well, basically it's the in between state. Teens are no longer children, but they are also not yet adults. They are in a transitional period where they are shaping their adult identities and trying to gain responsibility while holding onto childish wants and behaviors. Those people in the liminal phase have no real place in society, so society must decide what to do with them. This can lead to all kinds of conflicts and challenges. Teens don't want adults coming to their schools and groups and telling them what to do. They want to think for themselves and to learn for themselves. They gain information and experience from and with their peers. Taking this into account, we are working to shape our teen outreach program through teens. We want to use their ideas, their language, and their humor to develop our programs. This is the only manner through which we will reach this group. Walking in and talking from our perspective would go in one ear and out the next. Ill give you an example...

Take language. Teens have their own language. Adults tend to be very formal in their language usage. When coming in they bring with them the language of whatever field they are working in (jargon). In our field we frequently talk about "healthy relationships." In a recent meeting with our teen group I asked them how they felt about that term, "healthy relationships." They didn't think much of it at all. As a matter of fact, it meant nothing to them. Teens don't think about relationships as healthy or unhealthy. They think of them as good or bad. So putting up posters in the school that talk about healthy relationship as opposed to good relationships is not going to reach our target audience.

I guess my overall point of this is that if you are going to be doing outreach of any kind, or marketing for that matter, you HAVE to talk to and gain an understanding of the people you want to market towards. This means going above and beyond the traditional survey and talking to people. Survey's don't allow follow up questions. They don't allow you to probe deeper. Gaining a better understanding of your target group will make any campaign more effective than if you just go it alone.

http://youtu.be/LHv6rw6wxJY
Saw this video in one of my Cultural Anthropology classes a year ago. Best Anthropology song ever!

Cultural Implications in Filming

Yes...you read the title right. These are the weird things I think about during my daily life. We have finally wrapped up filming on "What Happens in the Woods, Stays in the Woods". It was a really great time but also very tiring. I think everyone was ready to be done by mid Sunday. The cherry on the cake came when we actually got to see the video put together in its finished format. While watching it though, and watching the others react to the comedy it made me wonder how it would be received outside of our small group.

We all know each other pretty well and the majority of the people working on the project are related. Our yardstick for comedy is pretty much the same. Not to mention that if you were to show the project in Skamania County it would probably get much the same reaction as we were giving it. Nothing is funnier than seeing someone from the city come into our tiny little town and surrounding forests and try to make their way around. Talk about sticking out like a sore thumb! However, this film will be playing in Hood River County in Oregon. While Skamania Co. and Hood River Co. are only separated by 30 minutes and the Columbia River, I couldn't help but wonder how it would be perceived in a community that is actually large enough to have a Walmart. Especially since we went out of our way to make the male lead the stereotypical Hood River-ite. The cultures between the two communities are vastly different. In Skamania Co. there are big trucks with loud engines, in Hood River you have Prius's running around town. In Skamania footwear is Romeos or Cowboy boots, in Hood River its flip flops, high heals or loafers. I guess we'll know how it goes when it's screened on the 9th of this month. One can only hope that those people watching it in Hood River will get the comedy of the movie. I sure think its hilarious!

It's the Movie's Baby!!!

Things are kinda crazy round our house the last 24 hours. We are currently half way through the Columbia Gorge's 48 hour Film Festival! http://www.foxcardmedia.com/48hrfp_page.html

I'd tell you what our project is but then that would ruin the surprise! Needless to say we have been busy, busy, busy. I know what your thinking..."What on earth does this have to do with Anthropology, Rachel?" Nothing, its just super, super fun! Of course, I would be willing to bet that some forward thinking Anthropologist out there has already began the trek into studying the wilderness one calls the movie industry. I know that I myself have thought of one particularly fascinating study regarding the music industry which focuses on language usage and it's cultural implications. When I actually get around to doing the study, I will post it for all to check out!

Going back to the film... We should rap up around 1am and its due in by 6pm tomorrow. Film production is certainly an interesting beast. I can't wait to see what its like when its finished!! Great job Team Jeffster! And yes...I promise that once it has been judged and screened and we are allowed to share it I will post a link here, through my twitter account and on you tube. Keep an eye out for it!!!

Why Anthropology?

Because I love it!!! Talk about being a part of something really really great! Anthropology is probably one of the most diverse fields I have ever encountered. What is Anthropology, you say? Well...let me tell ya!

In a nut shell, Anthropology is the study of humans! That's right...we study ourselves. Before you run off thinking "creepy" read on a little more. As an Anthropologist I have the ability to look out amongst my fellow human kind and learn an astounding amount of information.

Through Cultural Anthropology (that's me), I get to study cultures and communities. This can mean traveling to a foreign country to learn about customs and practices or traveling down the block to do a local ethnography on coffee shop customers. Everywhere humans go, we are surrounded by culture and diversity. As Anthropologists, we have the opportunity to take that culture and diversity and study it for the greater good of humankind.

Through Linguistic Anthropology, languages are studied and preserved. Some Linguistic Anthropologists have even used their smarts to determine how old certain languages are and through that, learned when different groups settled in their respective areas.

Archeology (that would be Indiana Jones' job) is the opportunity to look at our past and combine it with knowledge from the present to develop a better understanding of where we came from and where we could possibly be going. (Not to mention, you get to play in the dirt...who doesn't love that!)

Last but certainly not least is Biological Anthropology (think about the show Bones for this one). Biological Anthropologists get to do an amazing array of cool stuff. They study human development over the course of our history, evolution, primatology and the ever popular, Forensic Anthropology.

To sum it up...there is nothing an Anthropologist can't do...well almost nothing! The field of Anthropology has so many applications it can carry into any career field out there, from medicine to business to education. Don't believe me...cruise around the internet and check out all the awesome things Anthropologist do that you might not have been aware of.