What Drew Me to Anthropology Enough to Build a Website?

I’ve always been one to side with science, and anthropology sucked me in as an author. In fact, I often thought I would have made a great scientist, mostly because I love numbers and data.

Now, I’m going all in on a new parallel career path involving the study of cultures.

Of course, I am first and foremost an author. I plan on writing a lot more books in the very near future, both fiction and non-fiction. Anthropology is merely an extension of who I am becoming over the next couple of decades.

I’m looking forward to making a few discoveries of my own. Well, at least spreading factual information and my professional opinions regarding certain conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific “evidence.” I doubt I’ll be in the field without having a degree under my belt.

Why Create Codex Anthropologia?

The internet is full of content for various scientific needs. In fact, there are a lot of successful YouTube channels that do anthropology justice while sharing actual information.

So, why should I build the Anthropology Codex when other sources exist?

Expanding On Worldbuilding

In the beginning, I was only interested in anthropology as a way to make my worlds seem more real while writing fantasy and sci-fi. You’d be amazed by how well a few courses can influence your imagination.

As I am planning on doing a lot more with the Denaris world setting than just the Witcham Chronicles, I thought anthropology would be an amazing class to take to design some ancient cultures.

Well, once I took that first class, I was reminded of a teenage version of me who once wanted to be an archaeologist, like Indiana Jones. I’m well aware that Indy is a fictional character, but it got me thinking about all of the ancient cultures of the world and how they lived.

I’m looking forward to fleshing out my worlds using knowledge as a backbone for fictional people and races. In fact, my first anthropology course influenced creating the Ka-naan, a species featured in the Witcham Chronicles.

Helping Me with a Degree and Possible Career

For me, blogging about certain topics helps retain knowledge. I’m getting older, and the memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be. It’s more like a dull butterknife that sits in the back of your silverware drawer that no one uses.

Essentially, the blog acts like an online notebook of sorts. I can use it to refresh information while jotting down notes as I work toward my degrees.

Once I have those degrees, the blog will then act as part of my resume. Not only will I have a degree to show potential employers and such, but I should have a wealth of content to display as part of my expertise.

So, in the beginning, the blog is definitely self-serving. But if I can entertain or inform someone along the way, then all the better. Regardless, the blog will serve its original purpose of helping me establish knowledge and myself as a scientist.

Wow, that’s the first time I admitted to becoming a scientist without the jokes.

Building a Source for All Things Anthropological

I would love to build this blog up to the point of being a hub for all things related to anthropology. The problem, though, is that I intend to focus on archaeological anthropology as a graduate student. So, most of the content may center around that sub-discipline.

However, I am always one to learn and grow. I have no doubt that I’ll find other parts of anthropology interesting enough to study them, even if briefly.

Who knows? Maybe if the site gets popular enough, I’ll have enough money to hire a few anthropology students to fill in the gaps of the other studies. But let’s not put the cart before the horse. There is a lot of content to create before I can even add advertising revenue.

Anyway, the plan is to develop a good source of anthropological information. I’d also like to deliver it in a way that makes science accessible to all. Sure, I’ll have more advanced terms and knowledge on the site, but I would love to inform everyone, regardless of education level or age.

Contributing to Science

The thought of contributing to science is a nice one for me. Now, will I be quoted in some magazine or on a podcast? I doubt it. There are a lot of people out there with far more information than I. However, I still plan on writing about what I know and my opinions on discoveries.

No matter how you slice it, the content on the blog is still a contribution to science in some form. And because I am quite anal about facts and scientific evidence, rest easy knowing I plan on being a reputable source of information.

Perhaps I’ll have a few small explorations of locations myself to share with the world. Well, once the dust settles and my life becomes less chaotic. And I have an idea of a few places I want to explore the moment I move to Maine.

Sharing What I Learn to Combat Fake News

Pseudoscience is increasingly common, thanks to social media. There isn’t a day when I see or read something that makes my eyes roll so far into the back of my head that I can see my past self.

There is one saying that I learned while taking Dr. Balco’s class for Lost Worlds and Crystal Skulls at CU…artifacts, or it didn’t happen. It’s a play on the old saying, “pictures, or it didn’t happen,” which is moot nowadays, thanks to Photoshop and AI.

That means I plan on whipping out all kinds of facts, data, and the occasional anecdotal story from myself to drive the site forward. I don’t deal in conspiracy theories other than discrediting them. Unfortunately, belief is a powerful thing, and there are a lot of folks out there who will deny something even if the strongest evidence is before them.

Nonetheless, I’ll do what I can to help propagate actual information…not that the algorithms will give a rat’s ass. We’ll see how things go.

Pivoting After AI Crashed My Career

Lastly, my focus on anthropology comes shortly after generative AI took out my last freelance writing client. Instead of paying us a livable wage, the company sided with AI content and the proliferation thereof.

It’s sad that I have to say goodbye to a great era. I’ve made a lot of friends, helped thousands of people, and made a liveable amount of money. But those days are gone, and I highly doubt I’ll continue writing professionally. At least not for clients, anyway. I still have books and blogs to write.

Sure, there are a few companies out there looking for someone with my specific set of skills. But how long will it be before they decide to give me the axe as well? It’s difficult to see a future as a freelance writer.

So, I decided to pivot to focusing more on my books, blogs, and anthropology. Let’s see AI dig up a three-thousand-year-old corpse, or dive underwater to explore a sunken town.

Yeah, there’s a bit of animosity there.

A Whole Lotta Schooling Ahead

Since I am striving for a PhD in writing and anthropology, I have plenty of schooling ahead of me. Currently, I’m working on both bachelor’s programs, and it’s already costing a small fortune. Luckily, I won a scholarship, and I plan on applying for as many as I can. Still, that’s a lot of loans and out-of-pocket expenses.

To be honest, I can’t think of a better way to spend a chunk of my golden years. I’ll be 50 in a bit over two weeks, and will probably acquire my PhDs somewhere in my 60s. But unlike a lot of younger students, I plan on utilizing everything I learn right now.

Already, the writing classes have improved my stories and novels. Now, I’m hoping the anthropology classes will help me make something of myself before I turn 70. But if Indiana Jones can stick himself in a freezer and get nuked at that age, I’m sure I’ll be able to do something with what time I have left.

I’m not just eager for the piece of paper, mind you. I’m eager to learn and grow. And I’m looking forward to the years ahead of me that will surely open a world of topics and discoveries. It’s more of a journey to see if I have what it takes to go the complete distance.

In the grand scheme of things, I’m just getting started. Let’s hope that I have enough time to finish.

Looking Forward to the Future

You never know where you’ll be in 10 years. A decade ago, I was three years into my career as a freelance writer, mostly making money by using content mills. Never did I think I would have three books published and be on track to have a stellar college path. Currently, I’m maintaining a 4.0, and I don’t plan on that changing anytime soon.

My point is that anthropology is one of the driving forces behind my future plans. Eventually, I would love to be a professor at a nice university somewhere, all while publishing fiction.

Find something that sparks within you and take those initial steps. With all of the opportunities that are available online, the only one holding you back is you. Don’t sit idle, wishing for a better future. Make those wishes and dreams happen.