Thinking Through Things: Theorising Artefacts Ethnographically

by Amiria Henare (Editor), Martin Holbraad (Editor), Sari Wastell (Editor)

Drawing upon the work of some of the most influential theorists in the field, Thinking Through Things demonstrates the quiet revolution growing in anthropology and its related disciplines, shifting its philosophical foundations. The first text to offer a direct and provocative challenge to disciplinary fragmentation - arguing for the futility of segregating the study of artefacts and society - this collection expands on the concerns about the place of objects and materiality in analytical strategies, and the obligation of ethnographers to question their assumptions and approaches.
The team of leading contributors put forward a positive programme for future research in this highly original and invaluable guide to recent developments in mainstream anthropological theory.

Genres: Anthropology

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was often difficult to read, especially as it was dealing in anthropology literature/discourse with which I'm not very familiar. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile slog as the different approaches these scholars took toward studying "things" in context and breaking down the epistemological barriers between people and things was instructive and prompted me to think more thoroughly about the difference between approaching things (books or otherwise) from an epistemological versus ontological standpoint. The chapter on collecting, which I was an interesting critique of the Cardinal collection, dwelling specifically on the authors attempt to think of collection as a "way of being" rather than a quest for order or classification. I'm of a similar mindset, though I think that Moutu's particular reading of Cardinal is somewhat limited and that collection can, at once, be a way of being and a quest for order. Likewise, it can be one or the other.

[Gosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great topic that i would love to learn more about, but gosh it was so hard to read, especially in english. I feel like the authors made it this hard on purpose.
The introduction was horrible I felt like i didn't understand a single word but then it got slightly better