A History of Anthropology (Anthropology, Culture and Society)

This is the first work to cover the entire history of social and cultural anthropology in a single volume. The authors provide a summary of the discipline in the nineteenth century, from the cultural theories of Herder, Morgna, and Tylor to the often neglected contributions of the German scholars of the period. The work of early-twentieth century anthropologists such as Boas and Malinowski in the US and Britain, and the sociology of Durkheim and Mauss in France, is examined. The ambiguous relationship between anthropology and national cultures--many of the discipline's founders were migrants or Jews--also receives consideration. The principal focus of the book is on themes characteristic of post First-World-War anthropology, from structural functionalism , via structuralism, to hermeneutics, cultural ecology, and discourse analysis. Each major anthropologist is provided with a capsule biography, and key controversies arecovered, such as the debates on alliance and descent models of kinship, the puzzle of totmism, the problems of neo-Marxism and cultural ecology and the current battles over representations of the ''Other'' and deconstruction. This volume provides a timely, concise, and comprehensive history of a major intellectual discipline, in an engaging and thought-provoking narrative that will appeal to students of the discipline worldwide. This Book Covers The Entire History Of Social And Cultural Anthropology In A Single Volume. Beginning With A Summary Of The Discipline In The Nineteenth Century, Exploring Major Figures Such As Morgan And Tylor, It Goes On To Provide A Comprehensive Overview Of The Discipline In The Twentieth Century. The Bulk Of The Book Is Devoted To Themes And Controversies Characteristic Of Post First World War Anthropology, From Structural Functionalism Via Structuralism To Hermeneutics, Cultural Ecology, Discourse Analysis And, Most Recently, Globalization And Postmodernism. The Authors Emphasise Throughout The Need To See Changes In The Discipline In A Wider Social, Political And Intellectual Context.--jacket. Victorians, Germans And A Frenchman -- Four Founding Fathers -- Expansion And Institutionalisation -- Forms Of Change -- The Power Of Symbols -- Questioning Authority -- The End Of Modernism? -- Reconstructions. Thomas Hylland Eriksen And Finn Sivert Nielsen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 179-191) And Index. This is a thoroughly updated and revised edition of a popular classic of modern anthropology. Avoiding geographical bias, the authors provide summaries of ‘Enlightenment’, ‘Romantic’ and ‘Victorian’ anthropology, from the cultural theories of Morgan and Taylor to the often neglected contributions of German scholars. The ambiguous relationship between anthropology and national cultures is also considered, and the growth of distinctive national styles in anthropological research is highlighted. A History of Anthropology is an unparalleled account of theoretical developments in anthropology from the 1920s to the present, including functionalism, structuralism, hermeneutics, neo-Marxism and discourse analysis. Major anthropologists are provided with brief biographies and key debates are covered such as those concerning totemism, kinship and globalisation. This essential text on anthropology is highly engaging, authoritative and suitable for students at all levels. This is the first book to cover the entire history of social and cultural anthropology in a single volume. Beginning with a summary of the discipline in the nineteenth century, exploring major figures such as Morgan and Tylor, it goes on to provide a comprehensive overview of the discipline in the twentieth century.The bulk of the book is devoted to themes and controversies characteristic of post First World War anthropology, from structural functionalism via structuralism to hermeneutics, cultural ecology, discourse analysis and, most recently, globalization and postmodernism. The authors emphasise throughout the need to see changes in the discipline in a wider social, political and intellectual context. This is a timely, concise history of a major discipline, in an engaging and thought-provoking narrative, that will appeal to students of anthropology worldwide. "This book covers the entire history of social and cultural anthropology in a single volume. Beginning with a summary of the discipline in the nineteenth century, exploring major figures such as Morgan and Tylor, it goes on to provide a comprehensive overview of the discipline in the twentieth century. The bulk of the book is devoted to themes and controversies characteristic of post First World War anthropology, from structural functionalism via structuralism to hermeneutics, cultural ecology, discourse analysis and, most recently, globalization and postmodernism. The authors emphasise throughout the need to see changes in the discipline in a wider social, political and intellectual context."--BOOK JACKET.