Wrapping in Images: Tattooing in PolynesiaIn traditional Polynesian societies, tattooing played a key role in the social construction of the person. This study is the first to provide a comparative analysis of tattooing in its original setting, based on a comprehensive survey of the documentary sources, both written and visual. Drawing on modern social theory, psychoanalysis, and contemporary anthropological studies of Polynesia, Alfred Gell demonstrates that tattooing formed part of a complex array of symbolic techniques for controlling sacredness and protecting the self. This framework is used to elucidate the iconographic meaning of tattoo motifs, as well as the rich corpus of mythology surrounding tattooing in certain Polynesian societies, and the complex rituals associated with the tattooing operation. However, not all ancient Polynesian societies placed an equal emphasis on tattooing, and not all exploited the basic metaphors of tattooing in the same way. Dr Gell provides a wide-ranging comparative political analysis of the main Polynesian societies in order to show consistent correlations between forms of political structure and different tattooing institutions. In this way, Wrapping in Images can be read as a general introduction to Polynesian comparative sociology, viewed from the perspective of body symbolism. |
Contents
Western Polynesia and Fiji | 40 |
The Society Islands | 122 |
The Marquesas | 163 |
Copyright | |
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affinal alliance amo'a rituals ari'i Arioi basic become tattooed blood body breadfruit carved chiefly chiefs cloth context criminal cultural decorative defloration devolved discussion divine Easter Island élite encompassing European evidence exchange facial tattoo fact feasting female tattooing feudal Fiji Fijian flying fox gender genealogical girls gods Ha'apai Hawaiian tattoo hierarchy hypergamous idea important incest individual interpretation Irawaru ka'ioi Kaeppler male tattooing Mangarevan Manu'a Maori marked Marquesan tattooing marriage Mataora means Moahi tattooing moko motifs myth mythology Nafanua non-tattooed opou pahupahu particularly person political Polynesian societies Polynesian tattooing practice protective rank relation relationship relatively sacred sacredness Samoan tattooing sanctity Savai'i Sect seems sexual siamese twins significance skin Society Islands status Steinen style symbolic tapu tattoo designs tattooing ceremony tattooing institutions Tongatabu traditional Tu'i Kanokupolu Tu'i Tonga Tui Manu'a Ua Pou virginity Viti Vitian warriors western Polynesia women wrapping Zealand