What Exactly is Cultural Anthropology?

Cultural Anthropology is the study of contemporary cultures. This is by far the largest section of Anthropology as they study social organization, economics, technology marriage/family life and cultural practices and behaviors from politics to religion.

While this is the truth it does not touch upon the deeper, broader aspects covered as part of the study of cultural anthropology. Most particularly left out of this brief definition is the study of ethnography. An ethnographer studies a culture or human society. This is usually carried out through a practice called participant observation. Following a study conducted through participant observation an ethnographer then constructs a comprehensive report/case study on the culture in question. This case study is called an ethnography.

Participant observation is the approach in which an anthropologist will physically travel to the culture he/she wishes to study. This will then lead to a period of study with a minimum duration of a full year. Throughout this year the anthropologist will participate in the culture in which they are studying.

Cultural anthropology studies human culture and society holistically, as all fields of anthropology do. Cultural anthropologists study the variation present within each culture and often use the working definition of culture that was first articulated by Sir Edward Taylor.

"Culture, or civilization, taken in its broad, ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Now In summary, what exactly is is that cultural anthropologists do? They study the contemporary culture of humanity yes but more specifically they do so both through ethnographies and other forms of research. (Though ethnographies are an important part of cultural anthropology they are not the only expression of it, as many papers, books and studies involve cultural anthropology without being soley or even partially an ethnography.)

Sources
Introducing Cultural Anthropology (4th Edition) by Roberta Edwards Lenkeit

The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft (2nd Edition) by Rebecca L. Stein and Philip L. Stein