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The power of dead bodies in Eastern Europe

The Oberlin Review

“Dead bodies have enjoyed political life the world over,” said anthropologist Katherine Verdery on Monday. She did not, however, mean this literally. Verdery’s lecture, appropriately called “The Political Lives of Dead Bodies” after the title of her new book, aimed to explore the tremendous changes across Eastern Europe that accompanied the end of Communist rule. By studying the dead for political purposes, Verdery hopes to gain better understanding of these changes and their impacts. >> continue

SEE ALSO:
Book review: The Political Lives of Dead Bodies Reburial and Postsocialist Change by Katherine Verdery (Commonweal, June 4, 1999 / findarticles.com)

The Oberlin Review

“Dead bodies have enjoyed political life the world over,” said anthropologist Katherine Verdery on Monday. She did not, however, mean this literally. Verdery’s lecture, appropriately called “The Political Lives of Dead Bodies” after the title of her new…

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Frazer’s The Golden Bough is available online

This classic study in early anthropology (all in all 12 volumes, I think) is published online as part of Project Gutenberg. del.icio anthropology pointed to the book published on Bartleby’s website. But the book can also be downloaded from Sacred Texts-website and Project Gutenberg – without any ads.

SEE ALSO:
Wikipedia on The Golden Bough and amazon reviews
California Digital Library: 61 Free Anthropology Books in fulltext

This classic study in early anthropology (all in all 12 volumes, I think) is published online as part of Project Gutenberg. del.icio anthropology pointed to the book published on Bartleby's website. But the book can also be downloaded from Sacred…

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Ethnographic lecture confronts female gang myths

The Lantern, Ohio State University

In a presentation titled “The Politics of Representation,” ethnographer Marie “Keta” Miranda addressed the general misrepresentation of gang members, but focused largely on women. She discussed the knowledge she gained through her ethnographic collaboration with Chicana youths in Oakland, Calif., published in the 2003 book “Homegirls in the Public Sphere”.

It is important to recognize that women in gangs do have agency and they do make significant decisions. She said the gangs she studied in northern California were unique because they consisted entirely of young women. Miranda stressed the need for people in power to change their approach in order to provide more understanding of subculture groups. >> continue

SEE ALSO:
Homegirls in the Public Sphere – Reviewed by Ramona Lee Pérez, New York University (Association of Feminist Anthropology)

The Lantern, Ohio State University

In a presentation titled "The Politics of Representation," ethnographer Marie "Keta" Miranda addressed the general misrepresentation of gang members, but focused largely on women. She discussed the knowledge she gained through her ethnographic collaboration with Chicana…

Read more

What does it mean to be Muslim in a secular society? Anthropologist thinks ahead

The Daily Star Lebanon

Dounia Bouzar, an anthropologist and educator, spent two years working with 12 Muslim associations in France studying the different ways young Muslims approach their daily life. Her newest book, “Monsieur Islam n’existe pas; Pour une desislamisation des debats” (Mr. Islam doesn’t exist; de-islamisizing the discussions), is one of several publications just out in France that examine “la France Musulmane,” or Muslim France. Part of the goal in her new book is to show just how diverse the community is.

Discrimination is still a big problem in France and Bouzar feels it’s important to look for the reasons why a percentage of young Muslims feel the need to look abroad for guidance – a relatively new phenomenon. >> continue (link updated)

The Daily Star Lebanon

Dounia Bouzar, an anthropologist and educator, spent two years working with 12 Muslim associations in France studying the different ways young Muslims approach their daily life. Her newest book, "Monsieur Islam n'existe pas; Pour une desislamisation des…

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Anthropologist shoots down stereotypes about gun enthusiasts (Book review)

Reason / Find articles

Shooters: Myths and Realities of America’s Gun Cultures, by Abigail A. Kohn, New Fork: Oxford University Press, 224 pages, $29.95

Abigail A. Kohn calls Shooters an ethnography, an anthropological study conducted from within a culture to gain the “natives’ point of view.” Rather than studying gun enthusiasts though literature and statistics, or from behind a duck blind to ensure “objectivity,” Kohn spent time with enthusiasts, interviewing them, taking classes with them, and shooting with them.

The result is a fascinating look into the world(s) of gun enthusiasm that puts real, human faces on a gun debate dominated by antiseptic statistics and abstract principles. After reading Shooters, you’ll wonder why no one has done such a study before. The omission may stem from the typical attitude toward guns among academics, which Kohn addresses in her preface. >> continue

>> read the Introduction at amazon

Reason / Find articles

Shooters: Myths and Realities of America's Gun Cultures, by Abigail A. Kohn, New Fork: Oxford University Press, 224 pages, $29.95

Abigail A. Kohn calls Shooters an ethnography, an anthropological study conducted from within a culture to gain the…

Read more