Theories of Culture in Postmodern Times

by Marvin Harris

This text presents Marvin Harris' view on the nature of culture, and offers a materialist perspective on contemporary issues including the IQ question and the fall of communism.

Genres: Anthropology, Philosophy, Nonfiction

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

American anthropologist Marvin Harris was born in Brooklyn, New York. A prolific writer, he was highly influential in the development of cultural materialism. In his work he combined Karl Marx's emphasis on the forces of production with Malthus's insights on the impact of demographic factors on other parts of the sociocultural system. Labeling demographic and production factors as infrastructure, Harris posited these factors as key in determining a society's social structure and culture.

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of comments by Harris on various issues. Compared to his earlier work, it’s rather desultory. Especially weak is his rather dogmatic dismissal of biological factors in explaining social and cultural differences and similarities. He tries to demolish “The Bell Curve” and fails.

Harris also wavers between his scientism and his generally leftish politics. An unresolved contradiction.

Interesting ideas, as he often comes up with, but not his finest hour.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvin Harris acepta sin miedo que el materialismo cultural, a diferencia del marxismo-leninismo, no tiene una propuesta política: esto lo lleva a aceptar lo que un académico en su posición debe hacer, es decir, criticar las teorías posmodernas que se oponen a la teoría y método científico.

De igual forma, su análisis de la URSS, aunque predecible, logra dar en el clavo al afirmar que su "caída" no fue un suceso aleatorio sino un golpe de Estado.

En sus propias palabras, el marxismo sigue vivo y ni de broma estamos en el fin de la Historia.