SOAN 1100 (01) – Introduction to Anthropology

Spring 2003

Review Questions for La Zandunga (3-68)

1) Where is El Centro? What are Chiñas’s first impressions of El Centro? Who are the primary inhabitants of El Centro and the surrounding area? Why does she eventually decide to move to San Juan?

2) What is “La Zandunga”? Why is it important enough to be the basis for a title?

3) What are Chiñas’s primary research questions? Why did she choose to study these questions in this setting as opposed to somewhere else or with another group?

4) Who are Chiñas’s key informants? How does she meet them and develop these important relationships?

5) How does Chiñas plan to begin her research? What sorts of problems does she encounter with this plan and how does she end up changing her research plans?

6) What is a palanca and why is it important?

7) What does Chiñas suggest about the anthropological ideal of “cultural relativity”?

8) How are social classes divided in the area? How does this affect Chiñas’s efforts to open a bank account? Where do potters fit into this social system?

9) What are the different forms of religion that appear in Isthmus Zapotec culture? What does Chiñas suggest is the general approach to religion in the area? Why do potters seem to have different religious inclinations?

10) What are the defining characteristics of fiestas? Who sponsors fiestas and who participates? What sort of social function do these fiestas serve?

11) What sort of role do women play in maintaining peace and resolving disputes in the community? How does this relate to the distinction that she draws between ideal and real behavior?

Review Questions for La Zandunga (69-121)

1) Who are the viajeras and what do they do? How did Carlota become a viajera?

2) What are the “rules” of marketing as they appear in Chiñas’s account?

3) Who are the Huaves and what is the nature of their relationship with the Zapotecs?

4) Why is it important for anthropologists to collect life histories like Chiñas does with Doña Lucia?

5) Why did Faustina get sick?

6) What is the “heat of the dead”? What do funerals demonstrate about a person’s social standing in Zapotec culture?

7) What is involved in a traditional Zapotec wedding?

8) Why does Chica put up with Cata’s drinking? How do female Zapotec relatives protect a woman from a drunk man?

Review Questions for La Zandunga (122-175)

1) How is the incident when Cata breaks the windows at Doña Lucia’s house resolved? What does this indicate about women’s roles in the house and society?

2) What is the nature of Zapotec meals/eating? What does Chiñas suggest that this reflects about Zapotec culture in general?

3) Why is Doña Lucia so concerned about making preparations for her own death?

4) Why are pregnancy and childbirth such emotionally charged topics and experiences for Chica? How does this relate to her role as a woman in Zapotec society?

5) Is the Catholic church’s stance on birth control and family planning the main reason for high birthrates among Isthmus Zapotecs? What are some other contributing factors?

6) Why does Chiñas suggest that it is important to record everything while doing ethnographic fieldwork?

7) Is Chiñas ever completely comfortable in Zapotec society? When is she most comfortable as she moves back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico?

8) What sort of rituals and services are exchanged as part of the fiesta system?