Reflecting on America: Anthropological Views of U.S. Culture - Softcover

Boulanger, Clare L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205481434 ISBN 13: 9780205481439

Publisher: Pearson, 2007

Synopsis

In the spirit of Horace Miner, this thought-provoking yet accessible collection of articles (primarily written by American anthropologists on American mainstream culture) casts mainstream USA in the role of the "Other".  

 

It address traditional ethnographic categories covered by anthropologists—myth and ritual, economy and power, language and ideology-with theoretically meaty articles, geared toward an undergraduate audience. 

 

The authors, whether or not their subject matter is ephemeral, arrive at enduring conclusions so that the anthology has staying power; even though there are those who would state that the U.S. is too diverse to have any one culture.  (It acknowledges diversity; while stressing how something that can reasonably be called “U.S. culture” emerges from and shapes the cultures of our component populations.)

 

In addition, the collection is headed by a classic short piece, modeled after Horace Miner’s “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.” 

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Reflecting on America: Anthropological Views of U.S. Culture

 

By: Clare L. Boulanger

 

 

 

In the spirit of Horace Miner, this thought-provoking, yet accessible, anthology of articles casts mainstream U.S.A. in the role of the "other." 

 

This anthology is primarily composed of articles written by American anthropologists on American mainstream culture, and addresses traditional ethnographic categories covered by anthropologists––myth and ritual, economy and power, language and ideology. In addition, it examines how “U.S. culture” emerges from and shapes the cultures of our component diverse populations.

 

 

Highlights of the First Edition:

• The articles are specially geared toward a scholarly audience, with several contributors having authored popular textbooks and/or articles that have enjoyed wide distribution.   
• Each article is preceded by an introduction and short biography of the author to provide context..
• Each article is followed by an exercise or set of questions that encourages participation.
• The anthology covers topics such as evangelical religions, inner-city poverty, the influence of corporations on our lives, stock convictions about U.S. history and ideology, and more!

 

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About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0205481434
• ISBN 13: 9780205481439
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240