The Ceremonial Animal : A New Portrait of Anthropology

ISBN-13: 9780199263332

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Opis

Adapting Wittgenstein's concept of the human species as 'a ceremonial animal', Wendy James writes vividly and readably. Her new overview advocates a clear line of argument: that the concept of social form is a primary key to anthropology and the human sciences as a whole. Weaving memorable ethnographic examples into her text, James brings together carefully selected historical sources as well as references to current ideas in neighbouring disciplines such as archaeology, paleoanthropology, genetics, art and material culture, ethnomusicology, urban and development studies, politics, economics, psychology, and religious studies. She shows the relevance of anthropology to pressing world issues such as migration, humanitarian politics, the new reproductive technologies, and religious fundamentalism.
Wendy James's engaging style will appeal to specialist and non-specialist alike. The Foreword is written by Michael J. Lambek, Professor of Anthropology, University of Toronto.

O autorze

Lecturer in Social Anthropology, University of Khartoum, Sudan, 1964-69; research and visiting positions in Oxford, aarhus (Denmark, and Bergen (Norway), 1969-72; University Lecturer in Social Anthropology, University of Oxford, and Fellow of St Cross College, 1972; appointed Professor in 1996. Fellow of the British Academy, 1999; President, Royal Anthropological Institute, 2001-; Vice-President, British Institute in Eastern Africa, 2001-. (For list of publications see APF).