The anthropology of extinction : essays on culture and species death

We live in an era marked by an accelerating rate of species death, but since the early days of the discipline, anthropology has contemplated the death of languages, cultural groups, and ways of life. The essays in this collection examine processes of―and our understanding of―extinction across various domains. The contributors argue that extinction events can be catalysts for new cultural, social, environmental, and technological developments―that extinction processes can, paradoxically, be productive as well as destructive. The essays consider a number of widely publicized cases: island species in the Galápagos and Madagascar; the death of Native American languages; ethnic minorities under pressure to assimilate in China; cloning as a form of species regeneration; and the tiny hominid Homo floresiensis fossils ("hobbits") recently identified in Indonesia. The Anthropology of Extinction offers compelling explorations of issues of widespread concern. The Essays In This Collection Examine Processes Of--and Our Understanding Of--extinction Across Various Domains. The Contributors Argue That Extinction Events Can Be Catalysts For New Cultural, Social, Environmental, And Technological Developments--that Extinction Processes Can, Paradoxically, Be Productive As Well As Destructive. The Essays Consider A Number Of Widely Publicized Cases: Island Species In The Galápagos And Madagascar; The Death Of Native American Languages; Ethnic Minorities Under Pressure To Assimilate In China; Cloning As A Form Of Species Regeneration; And The Tiny Hominid Homo Floresiensis Fossils (hobbits) Recently Identified In Indonesia.--publisher Description. Accumulating Absence : Cultural Productions Of The Sixth Extinction / Genese Marie Sodikoff -- A Species Apart : Ideology, Science, And The End Of Life / Janet Chernela -- From Ecocide To Genetic Rescue : Can Technoscience Save The Wild? / Tracey Heatherington -- Totem And Taboo Reconsidered : Endangered Species And Moral Practice In Madagascar / Genese Marie Sodikoff -- Tortoise Soup For The Soul : Finding A Space For Human History In Evolution's Laboratory / Jill Constantino -- Global Environmentalism And The Emergence Of Indigeneity : The Politics Of Cultural And Biological Diversity In China / Michael Hathaway -- Last Words, Final Thoughts : Collateral Extinctions In Maliseet Language Death / Bernard C. Perley -- Dying Young : Pidgins, Creoles, And Other Contact Languages As Endangered Languages / Paul B. Garrett -- Demise Of The Bet Hedgers : A Case Study Of Human Impacts On Past And Present Lemurs Of Madagascar / Laurie R. Godfrey And Emilienne Rasoazanabary -- Disappearing Wildmen : Capture, Extirpation, And Extinction As Regular Components Of Representations Of Putative Hairy Hominoids / Gregory Forth -- Epilogue : Prolegomenon For A New Totemism / Peter M. Whiteley. Edited By Genese Marie Sodikoff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Exploring the endings of species, languages, cultures, and ways of life, this collection "provocatively makes one think about extinction in novel ways." — Biological Conservation We live in an era marked by an accelerating rate of species death, but since the early days of the discipline, anthropology has contemplated the death of languages, cultural groups, and ways of life. The essays in this collection examine processes of—and our understanding of—extinction across various domains. The contributors argue that extinction events can be catalysts for new cultural, social, environmental, and technological developments—that extinction processes can, paradoxically, be productive as well as destructive. The book considers a number of widely publicized cases: island species in the Galápagos and Madagascar; the death of Native American languages; ethnic minorities under pressure to assimilate in China; cloning as a form of species regeneration; and the tiny hominid Homo floresiensis fossils ("hobbits") recently identified in Indonesia. The Anthropology of Extinction offers compelling explorations of issues of widespread concern. We live in an era marked by an accelerating rate of species death, but since the early days of the discipline, anthropology has contemplated the death of languages, cultural groups, and ways of life. The essays in this collection examine processes of -- and our understanding of -- extinction across various domains. The contributors argue that extinction events can be catalysts for new cultural, social, environmental, and technological developments -- that extinction processes can, paradoxically, be productive as well as destructive. The essays consider a number of widely publicized cases: island species in Galapagos and Madagascar; the death of Native American languages; ethnic minorities under pressure to assimilate in China; cloning as a form of species regeneration; and the tiny hominid Homo floresiensis fossils ("hobbits') recently identified in Indonesia