Gender, Ritual and Social Formation in West Papua: A Configurational Analysis Comparing Kamoro and Asmat - Couverture souple

Pouwer, Jan

 
9789067183253: Gender, Ritual and Social Formation in West Papua: A Configurational Analysis Comparing Kamoro and Asmat
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 9067183253 ISBN 13 : 9789067183253
Editeur : Brill, 2010

Synopsis

This study, based on a lifelong involvement with New Guinea, compares the culture of the Kamoro (18,000 people) with that of their eastern neighbours, the Asmat (40,000), both living on the south coast of West Papua, Indonesia. The comparison, showing substantial differences as well as striking similarities, contributes to a deeper understanding of both cultures.
Part I looks at Kamoro society and culture through the window of its ritual cycle, framed by gender. Part II widens the view, offering in a comparative fashion a more detailed analysis of the socio-political and cosmo-mythological setting of the Kamoro and the Asmat rituals. These are closely linked with their social formations: matrilineally oriented for the Kamoro, patrilineally for the Asmat. Next is a systematic comparison of the rituals. Kamoro culture revolves around cosmological connections, ritual and play, whereas the Asmat central focus is on warfare and headhunting. Because of this difference in cultural orientation, similar, even identical, ritual acts and myths differ in meaning. The comparison includes a cross-cultural, structural analysis of relevant myths.
This publication is of interest to scholars and students in Oceanic studies and those drawn to the comparative study of cultures.

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À propos de l?auteur

Jan Pouwer (1924) started his career as a government anthropologist in West New Guinea in the 1950s and 1960s, with periods of intensive fieldwork, in particular among the Kamoro. He obtained a PhD at Leiden University in 1955. He was Professor at the Department of Anthropology of Amsterdam University (1962-1966), Head of the Department of Anthropology of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand (1966-1976), and a Reader at the Department of Anthropology of Nijmegen University (1976-1986).

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Brill
Date d'édition
2010
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
9067183253
ISBN 13 
9789067183253
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
314
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible