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Product Description
Product Description
Anthropology originated as the study of 'primitive' cultures. But the notion of 'primitive' exposes presumptions of 'civilized' superiority and the right of the West to speak for 'less evolved' others. With the fall of Empire, anthropology became suspect and was torn by dissension from within. Did anthropology serve as a 'handmaiden to colonialism'? Is it a 'science' created by racism to prove racism? Can it aid communication between cultures, or does it reinforce our differences? "Introducing Anthropology" is a fascinating account of an uncertain human science seeking to transcend its unsavoury history. It traces the evolution of anthropology from its genesis in Ancient Greece to its varied forms in contemporary times. Anthropology's key concepts and methods are explained, and we are presented with such big-name anthropologists as Franz Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski, E.E. Evans-Pritchard, Margaret Mead and Claude Levi-Strauss. The new varieties of self-critical and postmodern anthropologies are examined, and the leading question - of the impact of anthropology on non-Western cultures - is given centre-stage. "Introducing Anthropology" is lucid in its arguments, its good humour supported by apt and witty illustrations. This book offers a highly accessible invitation into anthropology.
About the Author
Merryl Wyn Davies, writer and anthropologist, is a former television producer who worked for BBC religious programmes for several years. She is the author of Knowing One Another: Shaping An Islamic Anthropology. Piero is an illustrator, artist and graphic designer whose work has twice been included in the Royal College of Art in London. He has illustrated many Introducing titles.
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First Sentence
In The Mind of Primitive Man (1938), Franz Boas (1858-1942), founder of American Cultural Anthropology, told us just who are the primitives. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In The Mind of Primitive Man (1938), Franz Boas (1858-1942), founder of American Cultural Anthropology, told us just who are the primitives. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
'Introducing Anthropology: A Graphic Guide' briefly covers the development of anthropology as a subject, covers some of the main debates in the field, introduces the reader to some of the main academics and provides short explanations of key terms. It is by no means a comprehensive account and if you are going to purchase this you should know it really is the bare bones (I read it in about an hour and a half).
There are some really good things about this book; the illustrations are excellent and difficult concepts are made fairly accessible. Suggestions for further reading are good, but limited in number.
What really lets it down is the complete and utter lack of any coherent structure; there isn't even a contents pageIt felt like the first third of the book was constantly saying 'this is the birth of modern anthropology' about a plethora of unrelated things, which got quite confusing. I also found the interjections of the 'noble savage' character incredibly irritating.
This isn't an awful book. I feel more informed about anthropology than before, but as I pursue the subject in greater depth I don't doubt I will find better introductory texts to review.
There are some really good things about this book; the illustrations are excellent and difficult concepts are made fairly accessible. Suggestions for further reading are good, but limited in number.
What really lets it down is the complete and utter lack of any coherent structure; there isn't even a contents pageIt felt like the first third of the book was constantly saying 'this is the birth of modern anthropology' about a plethora of unrelated things, which got quite confusing. I also found the interjections of the 'noble savage' character incredibly irritating.
This isn't an awful book. I feel more informed about anthropology than before, but as I pursue the subject in greater depth I don't doubt I will find better introductory texts to review.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Superficial and Fragmented
29 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback
I've read several excellent books in this series, which means that this "cartoon" format can work well in the hands of a skilled author, but this particular book is quite disappointing.
The primary problem is simply that the book drops plenty of terminology, names, and dates, thus giving the impression that something is being said with some sophistication, but it turns out that no topic is covered beyond a superficial level. Compounding this problem is the fact that the book jumps abruptly from topic to topic, with no apparent overall structure or integration, so the presentation is quite fragmentary. The result of these problems is that reading this book feels like reading a glossary rather than a coherent monograph.
Moreover, those who are new to the subject of anthropology are unlikely to learn much, and might even form a poor impression of what should be a fascinating and engaging subject. Part of the fault may be attributable to confusions within academic anthropology itself (maybe the general study of mankind is just too hard), but I still think this book has to take much of the blame.
Perhaps the only upside is that you can finish the book quickly, but a little bit of time wasted is still wasted time.
The primary problem is simply that the book drops plenty of terminology, names, and dates, thus giving the impression that something is being said with some sophistication, but it turns out that no topic is covered beyond a superficial level. Compounding this problem is the fact that the book jumps abruptly from topic to topic, with no apparent overall structure or integration, so the presentation is quite fragmentary. The result of these problems is that reading this book feels like reading a glossary rather than a coherent monograph.
Moreover, those who are new to the subject of anthropology are unlikely to learn much, and might even form a poor impression of what should be a fascinating and engaging subject. Part of the fault may be attributable to confusions within academic anthropology itself (maybe the general study of mankind is just too hard), but I still think this book has to take much of the blame.
Perhaps the only upside is that you can finish the book quickly, but a little bit of time wasted is still wasted time.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A frenetic, navel-gazing introduction
25 Jun 2004
Format:Paperback
I am a big fan of the "Introducing" series and in most cases find them to be entertaining as well as edifying. I was a bit disappointed with the the anthropology one in that it tends to radically jump from one topic to another with each flip of a page. Also, like a lot of particularly boring contemporary anthropology, it spends too much time reflecting on the criticisms of anthropology and way too little time on the usefulness of the information collected and analyzed by anthropologists. To write that "Anthropology has not assisted in equalizing power or disparities in wealth between the West and the Other (sic)..." (pg. 171) is both plain poppycock in that much of what anthropology does elevates the visiblity and power of people in diverse cultures, and is ridiculous in assuming that anthropologists have the numbers or power to influence governments and international capital. It is like blaming the Shakers for the moral decline of the world.
I suspect much of my criticism is due to the impossibility of using the format of the "Introducing" series to cover a topic as broad as anthropology. I liked the Levi-Strauss and the Noam Chomsky books in the series, but I think it is inherently easier to create a coherent introduction to single scholars.
I suspect much of my criticism is due to the impossibility of using the format of the "Introducing" series to cover a topic as broad as anthropology. I liked the Levi-Strauss and the Noam Chomsky books in the series, but I think it is inherently easier to create a coherent introduction to single scholars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A cartoon introduction
6 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
This is kind of a neat book, but not what I was looking for. It's a VERY basic comic book of sorts to give you a very general idea of anthropology terms and ideas. If you're looking for an anthro for dummies type thing, this isn't it.
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