The ceremonial animal
Subtitle: a new portrait of anthropology
By: Wendy James ; with a foreword by Michael Lambek
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2003
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 384
Subjects: Ethnology -- Philosophy; Ethnology -- Methodology; Rites and ceremonies; Philosophical anthropology
Description: "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"--Publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [346]-354) and index