Marshall Sahlins on Marcel Mauss' "The Gift" | Social Anthropology Conference at SOAS | 2 of 3
Channel: Anthropology: Do Kamo
Date: 2023-05-20

*Insightful lecture by* renowned social anthropologist *Marshal Sahlins* at SOAS University of London (2016).
In light of Jane Guyer's recently published translation "The Gift: Expanded Edition", Sahlins reflects on the continued relevance of Marcel Mauss and his 1925 magnum opus within social anthropology and beyond. 

Discover the intricate connections between gift exchange, obligation, status, religion, economics, politics, and mythology in various societies across the globe. 

This series of lectures includes:

Lecture #1: Marilyn Strathern https://youtu.be/OzqaJRxDihA
Lecture #2: Marshal Sahlins
Lecture #3: David Graeber https://youtu.be/t4Z8o79kBgg
Lecture #4: _Discussion_

*Conference participants:* Jane Guyer, Marshall Sahlins, Marilyn Strathern, Maurice Bloch, Jonathan Parry, Keith Hart, David Graeber, Jacob Copeman, Kostas Retsikas, and Giovanni da Col. 



▬▬ Further Reading ▬▬ 

⸙ "The Gift: Expanded Edition" by Jane I. Guyer (HAU Books) https://haubooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Marcel-Mauss-The-Gift-Expanded-Edition-Selected-Annotated-and-Translated-by-Jane-Guyer.pdf 

⸙ Marcel Mauss https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcel-Mauss 
⸙ Marilyn Strathern https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Strathern 
⸙ Jane Guyer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_I._Guyer 
⸙ Marshall Sahlins https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marshall-Sahlins 
⸙ David Graeber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Graeber 
⸙ Émile Durkheim https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emile-Durkheim 



▬▬ In-Depth ▬▬ 

"On April 30th, 2016, a conference was held in London at SOAS to celebrate Jane Guyer’s new translation and introduction to Marcel Mauss’ classic Essay on the Gift, published by HAU Books. Commenters included Marilyn Strathern, Marshall Sahlins, Keith Hart, David Graeber, and Maurice Bloch."¹ 

"This event celebrates the release of Jane Guyer's new translation and expanded edition of Marcel Mauss' The Gift (with a new foreword by Bill Maurer). Following the tradition of *Evans-Pritchard* and *Mary Douglas* in reframing Mauss' classic essay for new translations and new generations, Guyer has set a new bar for how we might chart new paths via anthropology's most famous gift that keeps on giving. 

For this event, some of the discipline’s greatest interlocutors of Mauss have been invited to reflect on the question: *'What did The Gift give to anthropology and the humanities, and what can it still give?'* In this collective discussion, we seek to explore the unexplored paths where the essai may still lead us, inspired by Mauss' wisdom and vision of solidarity and to be gained through close ethnographic and historical attention. 

What are these paths now, for our own moment in history--now 91 years after the publication of the essai?"² 

*Marcel Mauss,* often referred to as the father of modern French anthropology, profoundly influenced disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, and psychology. Despite not conducting fieldwork himself, Mauss' analysis of gift-giving societies challenged prevailing notions about market economies. He explored the complexities of gift exchange, highlighting the obligations, reciprocity, and competitive dynamics inherent in these systems. 

Learn about Mauss' background in philosophy and religion, his collaborations with notable figures like *Émile Durkheim,* and his influential contributions to the field of anthropology. 

This conference, featuring esteemed anthropologists Marilyn Strathern, Marshall Sahlins, and David Graeber, offers a unique opportunity to delve into these thought-provoking themes. In this conference recording Sahlins shares his expertise and sheds light on the profound significance of gift-giving societies and Mauss’ role and relevancy within contemporary anthropology. 

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▬▬ Sources, C & CC ▬▬ 

⸙¹ Special thanks to History of Anthropology Review https://histanthro.org/news/observations/hau-and-when/ 
⸙² SOAS University of London [https://www.youtube.com/@SoasAcUk] video conference and description text licensed under CC BY. 



▬▬ Keywords ▬▬ 

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