The Anthropology of Friendship

by Bell Sandra (editor), Simon Coleman (Editor)

Friendship is usually seen as a vital part of most people's lives in the West. From our friends, we hope to derive emotional support, advice and material help in times of need. In this pioneering book, basic assumptions about friendship are examined from a cross-cultural point of view. Is friendship only a western conception or is it possible to identify friends in such places as Papua New Guinea, Kenya, China, and Brazil? In seeking to answer this question, contributors also explore what friendship means closer to home, from the bar to the office, and address the Are friendships voluntary?* Should friends be distinguished sharply from relatives?* Do work and friendship mix?* Does friendship support or subvert the social order?* How is friendship shaped by the nature of the person, gender, and the relationship between private and public life?* How is friendship affected when morality is compromised by self-interest?This book represents one of the few major attempts to deal with friendship from a comparative perspective. In achieving this aim, it demonstrates the culture-bound nature of many assumptions concerning one of the most basic building-blocks of western social relationships. More importantly, it signposts the future of social relations in many parts of the world, where older social bonds based on kinship or proximity are being challenged by flexible ties forged when people move within local, national and increasingly global networks of social relations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

voor school

[Ezra Mewissen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Opdracht voor het vak Culture, intimacy and relatedness
Ik vond er doorheen het boek heeeelemaal niets aan, gelukkig viel het achteraf wel mee.
Heel veel moeilijke en wetenschappelijke termen waardoor je echt veel tijd nodig had om het te lezen.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, better than I anticipated I'd find on the subject. If you're interested in the topic this is definitely worth the read.