Final answer:
A contemporary cultural anthropologist could study a range of topics including political institutions in a village, kinship systems in an urban context, or patterns of life in their own society. The field explores various cultural aspects and is not limited to just one area of study.
Step-by-step explanation:
A contemporary cultural anthropologist is likely to study any of the above: a) political institutions in a village in another country, b) kinship systems in an urban setting, and c) patterns of material life in his or her own society. Cultural anthropology encompasses the study of all aspects of humanity's cultural life, spanning from material aspects to intricate social and political systems, and this includes the examination of contemporary cultural expressions and structures.
As the discipline of cultural anthropology evolves, it maintains a central commitment to understanding human cultures and how they interrelate. The study of how societies are structured, including the roles and institutions that organize social life, is central to contemporary anthropology. This includes analyzing how different aspects, such as the economy, political systems, religion, families, and digital media, contribute to the functioning of societies.
Anthropologists utilize a variety of methodologies to capture the nuances of human societies, including ethnographic studies. These studies allow anthropologists to immerse themselves into the cultural systems they are studying, whether in physical spaces, like villages or urban areas, or in digital realms where human interaction is mediated by technology. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of both the concrete and abstract elements that constitute the fabric of everyday life in societies around the world.