Our scholarly homage and playful humour of our Boas mug is sure to enchant any aficionado of Anthropology. But if you ended up on this blog post, perhaps you didn't get the joke after all. Not to worry, our witty workers at The Uni Shop have your back. So who even was Boas?
Franz Uri Boas (yes, he shares a middle name with the spoon bender Uri Geller), was not only a titan of Anthropology but also a figure of remarkable eccentricity. Renowned as the "Father of American Anthropology," Boas's scholarly contributions are matched only by the quirkiness of his methods. He immersed himself fully in the cultures he studied, adopting their customs and languages with a fervour that not only bordered on the whimsical, but were also radically different to the theories of physical, social, and cultural evolution current at that time.
This is also where the picture that adorns our mug stems from. One of a series of pictures that were taken of Boas to help with the preparation of an exhibit at the United States National Museum, aka the Smithsonian, the exhibition was a recreation of the Hamat’sa Dance of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw (“Kwakiutl”) people Boas hung out with in British Columbia back in the day. Read more about these fascinating pictures here.
But let's not forget that beyond its playful façade lies a deeper message about the essence of Anthropology. Boas' immersive approach to fieldwork speaks volumes about the discipline's core values: empathy, cultural relativism, and a deep appreciation for human diversity.
Of course, "Do it like a Boas" is not just an homage to Franz Boas' immersive approach to Anthropology; it's also a playful twist on the popular phrase "do it like a boss." It's a nod to both excelling in your studies and embodying the spirit of the boss that Boas was – embracing challenges with grace and tenacity.
As you raise your "Do it like a Boas" mug in tribute to anthropology, remember the lessons it imparts: to approach your studies with dedication and curiosity, to embrace the richness of cultural diversity, and to always maintain a sense of scholarly wit.
So, here's to academic excellence, anthropological insight, and the joy of a well-crafted pun – all encapsulated within the delightful confines of a single mug. Cheers to "doing it like a Boas" in both your studies and your pursuit of knowledge!
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