Final answer:
Formative anthropology focuses on cultural development and change, while classical anthropology examines how different parts of culture fit together and function. Cultural evolutionism is a key concept in formative anthropology, while functionalism is a central approach in classical anthropology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formative anthropology and classical anthropology are two different approaches to studying human culture. Formative anthropology focuses on the development and change of cultural forms over time, using concepts like evolution and adaptation. Classical anthropology, on the other hand, examines how different parts of a culture fit together and function as a whole.
In formative anthropology, cultural evolutionism was a prevalent approach in the 19th century. Anthropologists like Edward Tylor believed that cultures evolved from simpler forms to more complex forms. They assigned different cultures to evolutionary stages based on their perceived complexity. For example, gathering and hunting societies were considered more rudimentary, while advanced farming and trade were associated with civilization.
In classical anthropology, a functionalist perspective is often used to understand the functionality of culture. This approach focuses on how different aspects of a culture work together to fulfill the needs and functions of a society. For example, cultural anthropologists use participant observation to study how various cultural practices, beliefs, and social institutions interact in contemporary societies.