Fighting With Food : Leadership, Values and Social Control in a Massim Society

Young, Michael W.; Stanner, W. E. H. (EDT)

ISBN 10: 0521107660 / ISBN 13: 9780521107662

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2009

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 6061864-n

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fighting With Food : Leadership, Values and Social Control in a Massim Society
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521107660
• ISBN 13: 9780521107662
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The Melanesians of Goodenough Island, off the eastern coast of New Guinea, have developed the principle of gift-giving to an extraordinary degree. Instead of resorting to arms in their quarrels or demanding compensation for offences, they present enemies and offenders with pigs and yams in order to shame them. This custom of coercive gift-giving operates at various organizational levels and through two main institutional forms: competitive food exchange and festivals. Dr Young analyses in depth the social and political structure of a single village, dealing in detail with its system of social control and those vexed topics of Melanesian ethnography - leadership and sorcery. Of particular interest is the author's description of the configuration of values which makes food-giving-to-shame meaningful to the Goodenough Islander for whom 'happiness is a rotting yam', and the worst evil 'hunger-producing sorcery'. The careful use of case material gives vivid insights into the lifestyle, world view and humanity of these proud and fractious people.

Book Description

The Melanesians of Goodenough Island, off the eastern coast of New Guinea, have developed the principle of gift-giving to an extraordinary degree. Instead of resorting to arms in their quarrels or demanding compensation for offences, they present enemies and offenders with pigs and yams in order to shame them.