Final answer:
Bronislaw Malinowski's view on the anthropologist's job was to understand the complex cultural systems of societies, focusing on how they meet a wide array of human needs. His significant ethnographic work with the Trobriand people through long-term fieldwork provided a nuanced understanding of their culture that went beyond the ethnocentric views of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Bronislaw Malinowski, the job of the anthropologist was not merely to record cultural artifacts but to understand the full complexity of societies, even those deemed primitive, and to observe how cultural systems meet an array of human needs. Malinowski's ethnographic work, particularly in his study of the Trobriand people and the kula ring, was influential in showcasing the intricacies of social status, trade relationships, and culture beyond simple survival. His fieldwork emphasized a blend of participant-observation and a holistic view, shedding light on various facets of human life, such as economics, religion, and kinship.
Malinowski's Ethnographic Fieldwork
Malinowski spent nearly two years immersed in the Trobriand Islands society, adopting the practices of trade and magic to learn deeply about the community's ways of life. His rigorous approach to ethnography through long-term fieldwork allowed him to gather extensive knowledge about the Trobrianders' social systems, toolmaking, farming, gender roles, and other aspects, resulting in a respected ethnographic study, 'Argonauts of the Western Pacific'.
Ethnocentrism and Evolutionary Anthropology
Early anthropological theories often fell into ethnocentric perspectives, charting cultures' development stages toward a supposed European ideal of civilization. Malinowski's work diverged from this, firmly rooted in the idea that cultures should be studied on their own merits, through immersive and detailed fieldwork experiences informed by a rigorous, scientifically grounded, and empathic approach, which has since become the standard within cultural anthropology.