RE: The Subfields of Anthropology
Again, a most excellent post on a subject I happen to be very keen on. Two weeks ago, I was writing to someone who had replied to you and mentioned the name of Sylvie Poirier, PhD., teacher in the Department of Anthropology, in Université Laval, Quebec City. Her work is also of great importance as it also exposes the intricate relationships existing between fields of study within the realms of anthropology. It is my conviction that you would greatly appreciate her work, especially after reading this latest article. specifically, I would point out the book "A WORLD OF RELATIONSHIPS: Itineraries, Dreams, and Events in the Australian Western Desert".
Here's a quick summary of the book:
*"A World of Relationships is an ethnographical account and anthropological study of the cultural use and social potential of dreams among Aboriginal groups of the Australian Western Desert. The outcome of fieldwork conducted in the area in the 1980s and 90s, it was originally published in French as Les jardins du nomade: Cosmologie, territoire et personne dans le d sert occidental australien.
In her study, Sylvie Poirier explores the contemporary Aboriginal system of knowledge and law through an analysis of the relationships between the ancestral order, the 'sentient' land, and human agencies. At the ethnographical and analytical levels, particular attention is given to a range of local narratives and stories, and to the cultural construction of individual experiences. Poirier also investigates the cultural system of dreams and dreaming, and the process of their socialization, analysing their ideological, semantic, pragmatic, and experiential dimensions. Through the synthesis of a complex and diverse range of theoretical and empirical materials, A World of Relationships offers new insights into Australian Aboriginal sociality, historicity, and dynamics of cultural change and ritual innovation."
By Sylvie Poirier
I really hope you'll have the opportunity to read this one, eventually, as I know so many of us have piles waiting for us to read... Thanks again for your excellent post, keep your smile, take good care, Steem on, thrive on and namaste :)
Hi @eric-boucher, I once again I am so grateful firstly for the truly amazing comment and support:)
As you have rightly said
But with that said I am always willing to make the effort to read a book that truly peaks my interest
and from reading the extract that you have quoted above I will certainly look into getting myself a copy as soon as possible.
I thank you sincerely for the recommendation.
I truly wish you all the very best and you as well keep smiling , keep in great health and steem on:)
Namaste.
This reply makes me so happy and, by now, super excited to read a post on your thoughts about this one... It is extremely well written and the knowledge as well as the wisdom contained within these pages are a total gems, both in my heart and mind.
Namaste :)
@eric-boucher, it was me you replied to:) And I still owe you an answer, I guess. You mentioned that book & author. I wasn't "steeming" for about a week and came back yesterday. As you so deeply connect to that work I am also interested to read it. If this is going to happen I will come back to you. No guarantees, though:))
@zest wrote another excellent article and got my attention with that. It made me think how much complex the observations and conclusions of human development, habit & behavior are we try to understand. I see two sides of it: the one which leads to deeper understanding myself and others. The other one to mistake findings, observations and studies for the sake of short arguments, for example. But nobody can prevent that. Sometimes I think, people should more focus on what their professions are and devote to them and do less "opinioning" in realms they do not understand to the fullest. To bridge the disciplines is a must, though. Not easy in our complex world.
... But then: when does understanding begin and end?
I guess after realizing the mentioned and what my conclusion to complexity and insecurity is, is to get to know, inherit & practice the very basics of humanity as there are - for example - stated in the Buddhist teachings, which fascinate me because I see many parallels to my own profession as a systemic consultant.
The path toward the within first open up on the realities of what we are as a human being, as a person and eventually as the retreat within goes deeper and the waters of your mind settle, not only can you reflect with great clarity, but from this stand point, you can see deeper, much deeper... Where dos the light of understanding and, more importantly shine depends on that process and is, mathematically speaking, a function of it. The science of Tibetan buddhism and its yogic practices have been systematically used for centuries and are deeper than words can acknowledge ingrained in my being. The fundamentals of this movement of the mind and awakening of consciousness through awareness arousing have been discussed in this latest series of mine discussing the power of imagination, the process toward recognizing that one is dreaming and, ultimately, the awakening within the dreaming. From here, I started discussing dream yogas, exercises a dreamer does while being aware-fully conscious- that one is dreaming exemplified through personal stories occurring during practices while I am sleeping. Eventually, this series is going to be moving toward the same regimen in both realms of the sleeping nights and so-called awaken days...
Looking forward to reading and sharing with you some more, it has been such a pleasure so far. Till then, keep your smile and taking good care, Steem on and, more importantly, thrive on! Namaste :)