Final answer:
Bronislaw Malinowski adopted a fieldwork approach to anthropology where he lived with and observed the Trobriand Islanders, which resulted in detailed ethnographies such as 'Argonauts of the Western Pacific' and 'The Sexual Life of Savages.' His work demonstrated the complexity of the Trobriand society and introduced a functionalist perspective in cultural studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bronislaw Malinowski was a pioneering cultural anthropologist who is best known for his method of long-term fieldwork and participant observation within the Trobriand Islands, which was a significant departure from prior anthropological research that often relied on second-hand accounts. Malinowski's approach, which involved immersing himself in the daily life of the Trobriand people, led to rich, in-depth ethnographic accounts. His work Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922) is a classic example, where he described the intricacies of the Trobriand Islanders' kula ring, a ceremonial exchange system critical for their social structure. Furthermore, Malinowski developed a functionalist perspective in anthropology, focusing on how cultural practices meet the various needs of people within a society. In his ethnography The Sexual Life of Savages in North-Western Melanesia (1929), Malinowski explored Trobriand society, including kinship, marriage, sexuality, and family life. These works contributed to the understanding of complex social systems within so-called primitive societies, challenging the evolutionary perspective that these societies were simple or backward. His focus on the functionality of rituals to reduce anxiety in uncertain conditions, as seen in the kula ring voyages, is another aspect of his influential work.