The ceremonial animal : a new portrait of anthropology

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. Wendy James's engaging style will appeal to specialist and non-specialist alike. The Foreword is written by Michael J. Lambek, Professor of Anthropology, University of Toronto. 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. I: The Quest For Pattern. Key Questions In Anthropology -- Dialogues With Grand Theory -- Ii: Shape And Rhythm In Social Forms. Species, Space, And Time -- Life In Motion : Daughters Of The Dance -- Ritual, Memory, And Religion -- Iii: Language And The Making Of Persons. Speech And Social Engagement -- The Dialectics Of Gender And Generation -- Human Bodies, Social Persons, And Conscious Selves -- Iv: Practice, Production, And Politics In The Ceremonial Arena. The Home-made Patterns Of Livelihood -- Towards Large-scale Modern Forms -- From Local To Global Peace And War -- V: Concluding Essay. Anthropology As A Human Science : Conversations With History And Religion. Wendy James ; With A Foreword By Michael Lambek. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [346]-354) And Index. The questions we ask about the past and the present, not to mention the future, are mostly attempts to divine some kind of fitting shape in the material world, in events, and in people's actions-partly because we have to respond to all these, especially the latter.