Beyond CultureFrom a renowned American anthropologist comes a proud celebration of human capacities. For too long, people have taken their own ways of life for granted, ignoring the vast, international cultural community that srrounds them. Humankind must now embark on the difficult journey beyond culture, to the discovery of a lost self a sense of perspective. By holding up a mirror, Hall permits us to see the awesome grip of unconscious culture. With concrete examples ranging from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake to the mating habits of the bowerbird of New Guinea, Hall shows us ourselves. Beyond Culture is a book about self-discovery; it is a voyage we all must embark on if mankind is to survive. "Fascinating and emotionally challenging. . . . The book's graceful, non-technical style and the many illuminating, real-life illustrations make it a delight to read." —Library Journal "Hall's book helps us to rethink our values. . . . We come away from it exhilarated." —Ashley Montagu "In this penetrating analysis of the culturally determined yet 'unconscious' attitudes that mold our thought, feeling, communication and behavior. . . . Hall makes explicit taken-for-granted linguistic patterns, body rhythms, personality dynamics, educational goals. . . . Many of Hall's ideas are original and incisive . . . [and] should reward careful readers with new ways of thinking about themselves and others." —Publishers Weekly "A fascintaing book which stands beside The Hidden Dimension and The Silent Language to prove Hall one of the most original anthropologists of our era." —Paul Bohannan |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Action Chains | 141 |
Covert Culture and Action Chains | 153 |
Imagery and Memory | 169 |
Cultural and Primate Bases of Education | 189 |
Culture as an Irrational Force | 213 |
Culture as Identification | 223 |
Notes | 241 |
265 | |
281 | |
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Common terms and phrases
able action activity actually American animals aspects basic become begin behavior body brain building CHAPTER close communication complex context course culture deal depends described developed difficult discussed entire everything example experience extension fact feel follow frequently function given happens highly human identification important individual institutions involved Japanese known language less linguistic living look low-context man's matter meaning memory mind models move nature needs observed once one's organization particular past pattern person play possible Press problems reason recent relations relationship response result schools Science sense separate side significant simply situational social space structure taken talking tell things thinking thought tion unconscious understanding United University visual Western whole writing York young