Expert: Ralph Salier - 5/26/2011

Question
Pax et bonum!
What is the difference between Anthropology and Ethnography?

Answer
Hello Henrik,

A very good question.

Ethnography looks at a specific culture like the Yanamamo of the Amazon basin or the Kung San of the Kalahari Desert. The ethnographer seeks to learn every thing possible about the group from marriage rites to birth and death rites, music, etc...

The ethnographer is also an anthropologist.  Anthropology is an umbrella science and ethnography is one of the sub-fields.  Other subfields are:

Archaeology
Physical Anthropology
Ethno-musicology
Ethno-Economics
Business Anthropology
Media Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology
Genetic Anthropology

And many others.....

Each studies man in its own way.  Anthro (Man) Ology (Study).