Cosmologies in the Making: A Generative Approach to Cultural Variation in Inner New Guinea (Paperback)

Fredrik Barth

ISBN 10: 0521387353 / ISBN 13: 9780521387354

Editore: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1990

Riguardo questo articolo

Paperback. In examining the changes that have taken place in the secret cosmological lore transmitted in male initiation ceremonies among the Mountain Ok of Inner New Guinea, this book offers a new way of explaining how cultural change occurs. Professor Barth focuses on accounting for the local variations in cosmological traditions that exist among the Ok people, who otherwise share largely similar cultures. Rejecting existing anthropological theory as inadequate for explaining this, Professor Barth constructs a new model of the mechanisms of cultural change, emphasizing the role that individual creativity plays in it, and maintaining that cosmologies can be adequately understood only if they are regarded as knowledge in the process of communication, rather than as fixed bodies of belief. In examining the changes that have taken place in the secret cosmological lore transmitted in male initiation ceremonies among the Mountain Ok of Inner New Guinea, this book offers a new way of explaining how cultural change occurs. Professor Barth focuses on accounting for the local variations in cosmological traditions that exist among the Ok people, who otherwise share largely similar cultures. Rejecting existing anthropological theory as inadequate for explaining this, Professor Barth constructs a new model of the mechanisms of cultural change, emphasizing the role that individual creativity plays in it, and maintaining that cosmologies can be adequately understood only if they are regarded as knowledge in the process of communication, rather than as fixed bodies of belief. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Codice articolo 9780521387354

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Cosmologies in the Making: A Generative Approach to Cultural Variation in Inner New Guinea (Paperback)
• Editore: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Data di pubblicazione: 1990
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0521387353
• ISBN 13: 9780521387354
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Changes in cosmological traditions among the Mountain Ok of Inner New Guinea.

Recensione

"Barth provides significant theoretical insight into the nature of traditional and cultural variation. His focus on the mechanisms of communication and their effects on cultural symbols and the distribution of knowledge opens up a promising direction for future research." William H. McKellin, Pacific Affairs