Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of what makes us human. Anthropology is divided into four sub-fields: sociocultural (the field study of contemporary cultural patterns), archaeology (the study of the past as revealed through material objects), physical/biological (the study of humans as biological organisms, particularly with regard to human evolution), and linguistic (the study of language and its context). The Living Together exhibit is based on sociocultural anthropology. Anthropologists also investigate the processes through which cultures change. They seek to explain aspects of culture at a particular time, how the culture has developed into its current state of being, and what constraints, or factors, might create change.

Creativity
Creativity is one of the constraints that influence culture--environment and history are the other two. Humans possess the unique ability to communicate imaginatively through symbols in a variety of media, particularly language. Our creative RESPONSES to the world’s changing environments and evolving perspectives on history help us to adapt, and to solve problems essential to our individual and collective welfare.

Curator
Curators are trained in the study and care of objects, specimens or artifacts. Curators do research both with collections and in the field. They help to communicate the results of their research to the public.

Environment
Environment is one of the factors that influence culture--history and creativity are the other two. Our environment consists of the resources available to us. It presents us with challenges and constraints. Resources, in turn, depend on such factors as geography and climate, population density, built structures and infrastructures, and access to outside technology, materials and commodities.

People experiment with different uses of the resources and this can shape DIFFERENT RESPONSES in the same kinds of environments. Every time we interact with our environment, we change it, so that we are left with new choices to make in the future.

History
History is one of the factors that influence culture--environment and creativity are the other two. History is an accumulation of past actions. It is through the stories, memories and records of events that we recall the ways in which people interact with their environment and with each other.

People are constantly uncovering new information about the past. This changes our understanding of history’s influence. Our perceptions of past actions and interactions affect how we will RESPOND to the world in the future.

Prestige
Prestige is a quality that comes to a person with high status which is communicated through culutrally defined objects.

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