Anthropology at the Edge Essays on Culture, Symbol and Consciousness

by Prattis, Ian

• ISBN13: 9780761805564
• ISBN10: 0761805567
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-12-12
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

Symbolic process, myth, science, postmodernism and the environment are skillfully woven together in 13 essays that reflect the timbre of the times in terms of current issues in anthropology, philosophy and religion. The spectre of consciousness transformation provides a common underlying theme and Prattis provides a novel perspective on "who we are, where did we come from, where are we going". The current furor over the nature of science, postmodernism and symbolic processes in society is the driving force behind this collection of essays. Contents: PART I: Beyond Structuralism; Man and Metaphor; "Parsifal" and Semiotic Structuralism; PART II: The Poetic Turn and Postmodern Reflexivity; Dialectics and Experience in Fieldwork; "Reflections" as Myth; Reflexive Anthropology; (with D. Blair) Opening Ourselves up to the Voyage of Anthropological Practice; PART III: Process and Form; Celtic Festivals and Bilingualism Policy: The Barra Feis; Sacred Dance and Cultural Bridges; Death Breaths and Drivers: The Phenomenology of Shamanic Experiences; Metaphor, Vibration and Form; PART IV: Paradigms; Science and Sages--a Small Matter of Paradigms; PART V: Gaia and the Environment--Two Essays; Issues of Inner Ecology; Myth, Meditation and Transformation of Consciousness; About the Author; Author Index.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	v	(2)
Preface	vii	(10)
Acknowledgments	xvii
I Beyond Structuralism	1	(56)
Chapter 1 Man and Metaphor	1	(24)
Chapter 2 "Parsifal" and Semiotic Structuralism	25	(32)
II The Poetic Turn and Postmodern Reflexivity	57	(70)
Chapter 3 Dialectics and Experience in Fieldwork	57	(22)
Chapter 4 "Reflections" as Myth	79	(10)
Chapter 5 Reflexive Anthropology	89	(10)
Chapter 6 (with D. Blair) Opening Ourselves up to the Voyage of Anthropological Practise	99	(28)
III Process and Form	127	(110)
Chapter 7 Celtic Festivals and Bilingualism Policy: The Barra Feis	127	(28)
Chapter 8 Sacred Dance and Cultural Bridges	155	(16)
Chapter 9 Death Breaths and Drivers: The Phenomenology of Shamanic Experiences	171	(34)
Chapter 10 Metaphor, Vibration and Form	205	(32)
IV Paradigms	237	(30)
Chapter 11 Science and Sages -- a Small Matter of Paradigms	237	(30)
V Gaia and the Environment - Two Essays	267	(38)
Chapter 12 Issues of Inner Ecology	267	(24)
Chapter 13 Myth, Meditation and Transformation of Consciousness	291	(14)
About the Author	305	(2)
Author Index	307