In my prior anthropological theory classes from undergrad, Levi-Strauss was always juxtaposed against Geertz, with Geertz reacting against Levi-Straussian structuralism in an attempt to indicate the value of thick description - looking at bits of ethnographic data as chunks of information ripe for analysis. As we've talked about in class, his work, however, fails to really assess political issues and historical issues, which play a crucial role in anthropology, as evidenced by…

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also posted on here meaning at work or why utility is a priori only to itself





When I was growing up, my parents presented me with a life path.  It went something like this:

1. Go to public school
2. Go to College
3. Get a…

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In an article I read recently in the Leonardo journal Paul Lang draws some wonderful similarities between the process of scientific discovery and artistic creativity, focussing upon music as an…

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The ideas expressed and questions posed here are a follow up to an earlier piece entitled 'Is anthropology art?' and the discussion which ensued with John McCreery…

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The question of anthropology's correct place in the academic division of labour has split the discipline for a long time. The positivist view of the likes of Radcliffe-Brown being placed in distinction to the perception of the later Evans-Pritchard who saw it belonging to the humanities. So where are we now? Have we resolved this age old dispute? Alas, no. Many anthropologists and social scientists still harbour a secret desire…

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In August OAC's Oscar González wrote in the Theory for Anthropology group that:



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Call for a new boundary-crossing network

Anthropology and Mobility

Convenor: Noel B. Salazar



Mobility, as a concept-metaphor, captures the common impression that people’s life-worlds are in constant flux, with not only persons (including anthropologists), but also cultures, objects, capital, businesses, services, diseases, media, images, information, and ideas circulating across (and… Continue

Koyaanisqatsi

koy • ahn • i • skaht • see

noun (from the Hopi Language)

1. life disintegrating

2. life out of balance

3. life in turmoil

4. crazy life

5. a state of life that calls for

another way of living.

-(http://www.awok.org/)



The man

Of virtuous soul commands not, nor obeys:

Power, like a desolating pestilence,

Pollutes whate'er it touches, and obedience,

Bane of all genius,…

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