Daniel Miller es un antropólogo líder que examina cómo la tecnología y la cultura material dan forma a nuestras vidas. Su trabajo profundiza en las interacciones cotidianas, revelando cómo se construye el significado en nuestro mundo cada vez más digitalizado. Con una aguda perspicacia, analiza los impactos de la comunicación y el consumo en línea en las relaciones humanas y la identidad. La escritura de Miller ofrece profundas ideas sobre las complejidades de la existencia moderna.
Focusing on the intersection of theology and animal ethics, the book critiques contemporary views by proposing a love-based approach to human-animal relationships. Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan, it advocates for a narrative that emphasizes compassion and moral responsibility towards animals, challenging existing ethical frameworks established in the twentieth century.
Drawing on experiences from villagers in Bengal to scientists in Bangalore, this book explores the beauty, adaptability and personality of India's most iconic garment. Banerjee and Miller show why the sari has survived and indeed flourished as everyday dress when most of the world has adopted western clothing. Their book presents both an intimate portrait of the lives of women in India today and an alternative way for us all to think about our relationship to the clothes we wear. Lavishly illustrated and rich in personal testimony, The Sari expertly shows how one of the world's most simply constructed garments can reveal the intricate design of life in modern India.
Irvin Atchison lived a hard life as a young man growing up around Sidney, Montana, in the difficult times of the 1920s and 1930s. He had a way with horses and a hardscrabble life. When he joined the US Army, he had no idea that his skill would take him to the mountains of Hawaii to train mules in preparation for the coming War.
The main argument of this book is that people use material objects to express themselves and their cultures. Drawing on examples from both Western and developing cultures, it shows that everyday objects reflect not only personal tastes and attributes, but also moral principles and social ideals.
The diversity of contemporary London is extraordinary, and begs to be better understood. Never before have so many people from such diverse backgrounds been free to mix and not to mix in close proximity to each other. But increasingly people's lives take place behind the closed doors of private houses.
Exploring the varied manifestations of materiality from ancient times to the present, this book assesses the fundamental role of materiality in shaping humanity.
Things make us just as much as we make things. And yet, unlike the study of languages or places, there is no discipline devoted to the study of material things. This book shows why it is time to acknowledge and confront this neglect and how much we can learn from focusing our attention on stuff. The book opens with a critique of the concept of superficiality as applied to clothing. It presents the theories that are required to understand the way we are created by material as well as social relations. It takes us inside the very private worlds of our home possessions and our processes of accommodating. It considers issues of materiality in relation to the media, as well as the implications of such an approach in relation, for example, to poverty. Finally, the book considers objects which we use to define what it is to be alive and how we use objects to cope with death. Based on more than thirty years of research in the Caribbean, India, London and elsewhere, Stuff is nothing less than a manifesto for the study of material culture and a new way of looking at the objects that surround us and make up so much of our social and personal life.
A Booklife Editor's Pick "Filled with fascinating characters, breathtaking action... this novel grabs one's interest from page one."-Kat Kennedy, The US Review of Books Knowledge is power. It is said that the greatest chess masters can envision a match's outcome ten moves before it occurs. Imagine a person who can visualize ten steps ahead, not simply in the game of chess, but in every human interaction. Imagine a person who can see a punch before it is thrown; who knows what you are going to say before you say it; who can see every political and economic move long before it happens. Imagine a secret that can make this all possible. Mathematics professor Albert Puddles exposes this secret for himself as he is thrust into a murder investigation on the Princeton campus. The discovery leads Albert to delve into ancient religious interpretation and unmask new analytical abilities, all while teaming up with an aging mentor, a curious teaching assistant, and an elite Book Club on a frantic chase across America to recover this world-changing knowledge before it falls into dangerous hands. Albert-now embedded in a national cat-and-mouse political power play-rediscovers a woman from his past and is forced to confront his own understanding of love, rationality, power, and the true limits of the human mind.
A Theory of Shopping presents a unique perspective on shopping, challenging the common belief that it primarily revolves around individualism and materialism. Instead, the author draws an analogy between shopping and anthropological studies of sacrificial rituals, suggesting that purchasing goods is intertwined with social relations, particularly those rooted in love and care. The ethnographic research is based on a year-long study of shopping practices in North London, offering a nuanced exploration of the decisions shoppers face. The author proposes a theory that outlines three major stages of shopping, mirroring the key phases of sacrificial rites, where the ultimate goal is to shape others as desiring subjects. Additionally, the book explores historical changes in the subjects and objects of devotion, focusing on evolving ideals of gender and love. This innovative approach to shopping through the lens of comparative anthropology provides fresh insights into a familiar daily activity. Written in an accessible style, the book appeals to students and scholars in anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, as well as anyone interested in a deeper understanding of their everyday behaviors.
This guide serves as a valuable resource for both novice and experienced collectors of fine art photography. It offers insights into identifying, evaluating, and acquiring photographs, while also covering essential topics such as market trends, artist backgrounds, and preservation techniques. The compact format makes it easy to reference, ensuring collectors can make informed decisions in their pursuit of building a meaningful photography collection.