{"product_id":"anthropological-knowledge-secrecy-and-bolivip-papua-new-guinea-exchanging-skin-hardback-9780197264003","title":"Anthropological Knowledge, Secrecy and Bolivip, Papua New Guinea; Exchanging Skin (Hardback) 9780197264003","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eAnthropological Knowledge, Secrecy and Bolivip, Papua New Guinea\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eExchanging Skin\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780197264003, OUP Oxford\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 6 September 2007\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e276 pages, 20 halftones\u003cbr\u003e24 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.715 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eWhat is the nature of knowledge? Anthropology imagines it possible to divide or separate social and analytical relations, whereby knowledge travels between persons as a thing. And yet, Bolivip imagines knowledge as the bodily resources or parts of a person that can be extended or combined with others. This methodological exchange is modelled on a moment from Bolivip - an exchange of skin whereby knowledge is returned in respect of prior nurture and care given, and two people become encompassed by one skin.\n\nThe Min area of Papua New Guinea has proven to be one of the most enigmatic cultures in anthropological experience. But rather than accept this resistance to analysis as a problem of Melanesian secrecy, this volume suggests that archaic notions of anthropological knowledge have been the problem all along. Taking up the 'Min problem' head on, this study suggests a novel solution to the impasse.\n\nThe argument works through alternating chapters: an imagistic ethnography of Bolivip describes how arboreal and horticultural metaphors motivate the growth of persons and plants by circulating bodily resources through others. Knowledge here comes from those who contribute to conception, and is withheld until a person is capable of bearing it. These images are used to provide new readings of classic Melanesianist texts - Mead, Bateson and Fortune - substituting theoretical ideas for intimate relations; Weiner and Strathern's own experiments with anthropology modelled on Melanesia; and Barth's reading of secrecy amongst the Min.\n\nThe book provides an valuable insight into our own assumptions about knowledge and the world by means of insights into the aesthetics of a Papua New Guinean lifeworld.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Social \u0026amp; cultural anthropology, ethnography [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Social \u0026amp; cultural anthropology, ethnography\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Social%20\u0026amp;%20cultural%20anthropology,%20ethnography%20%5BJHMC%5D%22\"\u003eJHMC\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"OUP Oxford","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52502987505944,"sku":"9780197264003","price":55.48,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9780197264003.jpg?v=1786322589","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/anthropological-knowledge-secrecy-and-bolivip-papua-new-guinea-exchanging-skin-hardback-9780197264003","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}