The Anthropological Lens: Harsh Light, Soft Focus - Softcover

Peacock, James L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521337488 ISBN 13: 9780521337489

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1987

Synopsis

Anthropology is a complex, wide-ranging, and ever changing field. Yet, despite its diversity, certain major themes do occur in the understandings of the world that anthropologists have offered. In this clear, coherent, and well-crafted book, James L. Peacock spells out the central concepts, distinctive methodologies, and philosophical as well as practical issues of cultural anthropology. Designed to supplement standard textbooks and monographs, the book focuses on the premises that underlie the facts that the former kinds of works generally present. Free from unnecessarily abstract theoretical language and based on compelling concrete anecdote and engaging illustration, it is written in terms understandable to the anthropological novice, as well as being of value to the professional. The book's three main concerns are the substance, method, and significance of anthropology. In his discussion of substance, method, and significance of anthropology, such as the concept of culture, as well as holism. In writing about method, he explores the distinctive character of ethnographic fieldwork and raises questions of interpretation and comparison. Finally, he considers the relevance of anthropology with respect to both its practical application and what it contributes to understanding of human affairs. Using the photographic metaphors of 'harsh light' and 'soft focus', Peacock characterizes the anthropological worldview as consisting of two elements: on the one hand, a concern with the basic reality of the human condition, free of cultural influence; on the other, a broadly based holism that attempts to grasp all aspects of that condition, including its relation to the anthropologist. His book will appeal widely to readers interested in anthropology, at all levels.

About this title

Book Description

Anthropology is ever changing field and James L. Peacock's revised version of his successful text, The Anthropological Lens , first published in 1986, covers current issues in cultural anthropology, and includes new topics such as globalization, gender and postmodernism , and reflects recent changes in prespective and language. Designed for students, it will alsointerest professional anthropologists.

About the Author

James L. Peacock is Kenan Professor of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and President of the American Anthropological Association. His publications include Rites of Modernization, 1968; The Human Condition, 1970; Indonesia: Anthropological Perspectives, 1973; Consciousness and Change, 1975; Muslim Puritans, 1978; and Pilgrims of Paradox, 1989. He was President of the American Anthropological Association 1993-95, and was initiated into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1995.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0521337488
• ISBN 13: 9780521337489
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 140