Magical Writing in Salasaca

by Wogan, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780813341521
• ISBN10: 0813341523
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: Westview Pr

Summary

This engaging case study of Salasaca, a village in highland Ecuador, examines indigenous beliefs about writing, such as Day of the Dead name lists, comparisons with weaving, and a witch who kills people listed in his book of names. Magical Writing in Salasaca demonstrates that these beliefs reflect extensive contact with birth certificates, baptism records, and other church and state documents. Wogan's inquiry into the place of literacy in the Salasacas' worldview provides a nuanced look at the power relations between elites and nonelite villagers, at the same time that it imparts an empathetic understanding of alternative ways of viewing ostensibly familiar aspects of the world. Magical Writing in Salasaca will appeal to anyone interested in anthropology, literacy, power, or Latin America.

Author Biography

Peter Wogan is assistant professor of anthropology at Willamette University .

Table of Contents

Series Editor Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xiii
1 INTRODUCTION	1	(26)
Overview,	1	(6)
Ethnic Conflict,	7	(9)
Fieldwork and Friendships,	16	(11)
2 WITCHCRAFT AND WRITING	27	(22)
The Witch and His Book,	27	(4)
Personal Encounter with the Witch,	31	(4)
Why Hire San Gonzalo?,	35	(3)
Commentary on Conflict,	38	(11)
3 SOURCES OF MAGICAL BELIEFS	49	(26)
Sources for Beliefs in Magical Writing,	49	(9)
Tribute and Taxes,	58	(2)
Land Titles and Censuses,	60	(2)
Church Literacy and Education,	62	(2)
Theoretical Context,	64	(11)
4 GOD'S BOOK	75	(22)
Returning from the Dead,	79	(6)
Images of Surveillance,	85	(5)
Commentary on Power and Gender,	90	(7)
5 THE DAY OF THE DEAD	97	(20)
Cooling Off the Dead Souls,	98	(2)
Appropriating Church Power,	100	(4)
Patterns of Appropriation,	104	(4)
Magical Writing in Comparative Perspective,	108	(9)
6 WEAVING AND WRITING	117	(28)
Salasaca Comparisons Between Weaving and Writing,	119	(8)
Europeans/North Americans and Writing,	127	(4)
A Tourist Pamphlet,	131	(3)
Stereotypes,	134	(11)
7 CONCLUSION	145	(8)
References	153	(16)
Index	169