Final answer:
Public anthropologists like David Lewis and Franz Boas played a key role in making anthropology accessible and relevant to a broader audience, challenging traditional practices and creating subdisciplines like media anthropology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Public anthropologists, such as David Lewis, Franz Boas, and others mentioned in the context provided, have been instrumental in bringing anthropology to a public audience. These scholars have committed to making their research more accessible, challenging traditional narratives, and addressing the impact of anthropology on various communities, including native populations.
Franz Boas, for instance, revolutionized the approach to anthropological research by insisting on the direct collection of ethnographical information, paving the way for subsequent generations to embrace a more inclusive and participatory research methodology. Another key figure, Clifford Geertz, presented interpretive perspectives on culture, while recent studies in media anthropology expand the understanding of modernity across different cultural landscapes.
Through public presentations, storytelling, critique of anthropological practices, and the establishment of new subdisciplines, these anthropologists have collectively worked to present anthropology as an applicable tool for understanding and solving real-world problems, thus making it more relevant and engaging for a wider audience.