The life of the senses
Subtitle: introduction to a modal anthropology
By: by François Laplantine ; translated by Jamie Furniss
Series: Sensory studies series
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Published: 2015
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 152
ISBN-13: 9781472524843; 9781472531964; 9781472534804
Subjects: Ethnology; Philosophy; Culture; Semiotic models; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural; PHILOSOPHY / General; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General
Work titles: Social et le sensible
Description: "Both a vital theoretical work and a fine illustration of the principles and practice of sensory ethnography, this much anticipated translation is destined to figure as a major catalyst in the expanding field of sensory studies. Drawing on his own fieldwork in Brazil and Japan and a wide range of philosophical, literary and cinematic sources, the author outlines his vision for a 'modal anthropology'. François Laplantine challenges the primacy accorded to 'sign' and 'structure' in conventional social science research, and redirects attention to the tonalities and rhythmic intensities of different ways of living. Arguing that meaning, sensation and sociality cannot be considered separately, he calls for a "politics of the sensible" and a complete reorientation of our habitual ways of understanding reality.The book also features an introduction to the sensory and social thought of François Laplantine and the Sensory Studies series by series editor David Howes"--

"Both a groundbreaking theoretical work and an excellent illustration of the principles and practice of sensory ethnography, this much anticipated translation is destined to figure as a major catalyst in the emergent field of sensory studies. Drawing on a wide range of scholarly sources, as well as film, literature, and his own field experience in Brazil and Japan, the author outlines his vision for a 'modal anthropology'. François Laplantine questions the primacy of 'sign' and 'structure' in conventional social science research, and focusses attention on the tonalities and rhythmic intensities of our consciousness of the world. Arguing that meaning, sensation and sociality cannot be considered separately, he calls for a 'politics of the sensible' keyed to the life experience of the individual human subject"--
Notes: Translation of: Le social et le sensible.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-145) and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note:; title: Introduction to Laplantine by David Howes, Concordia University, CanadaTranslator's PrefacePrologue Chapter 1: The Brazilian Art of the Ginga; Walking, Dancing, SingingChapter 2: The Choreographic ModelChapter 3: Pains and Pleasures of the Binary: The Dichotomy of Meaning and the SensibleChapter 4: The Semantic ObsessionChapter 5: The Sensible, the Social, Category and EnergyChapter 6: Two Precursors of an Anthropology of the Sensible: Roger Bastide and Georges BatailleChapter 7: Living Together, Feeling Together: Towards a Politics of the SensibleChapter 8: Sensible Thought: Thinking through the Body-Subject in MovementEpilogue in the Form of Seven Propositions: Toward a Modal AnthropologySupplement: Sensing TokyoNotesBibliographyIndex.