Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short IntroductionIf you want to know what anthropology is, look at what anthropologists do. This Very Short Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology combines an accessible account of some of the disciplines guiding principles and methodology with abundant examples and illustrations of anthropologists at work. Peter Just and John Monaghan begin by discussing anthropologys most important contributions to modern thought: its investigation of culture as a distinctively human characteristic, its doctrine of cultural relativism, and its methodology of fieldwork and ethnography. They then examine specific ways in which social and cultural anthropology have advanced our understanding of human society and culture, drawing on examples from their own fieldwork. The book ends with an assessment of anthropologys present position, and a look forward to its likely future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
1 | |
Fieldwork and Ethnography | 13 |
Culture | 34 |
Society | 53 |
Sex and Blood | 75 |
Caste Class Tribe Nation | 89 |
People and Their Things | 107 |
Other editions - View all
Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction John Monaghan,Peter Just No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
A. R. Radcliffe-Brown anthropologists Azande basis behaviour beliefs Bima Bimanese Boas Bose brideprice Bronislaw Malinowski called century Chapter characterized classic Claude Lévi-Strauss Clifford Geertz collective complex concept cultural relativism descent discipline distinctions Djafar Amyn Doro Ntika Dou Donggo E. E. Evans-Pritchard economic Émile Durkheim ethnic ethnographer’s ethnographic example exchange experience female fieldwork fiesta Franz Boas function gender gift global household human idea identity ideology important ina Mone individuals Indonesia institutions John John’s kinship language learned live male marriage married matrilineal means Mixtec Mixtec friends modern moral mother Muslim Ñañuu nation nature Ninde Nuyoo Nuyootecos one’s organized participant observation person Peter and Anne political practices problem relations relationship religion religious rice ritual Sambia sense sexual shared blood Short Introduction societies solidarity things traditional understanding unique United University village Weber wife’s woman women