Schools and Styles of Anthropological Theory

by Matei Candea (Editor)

This book presents an overview of important currents of thought in social and cultural anthropology, from the 19th century to the present. It introduces readers to the origins, context and continuing relevance of a fascinating and exciting kaleidoscope of ideas that have transformed the humanities and social sciences, and the way we understand ourselves and the societies we live in today.

Each chapter provides a thorough yet engaging introduction to a particular theoretical school, style or conceptual issue. Together they build up to a detailed and comprehensive critical introduction to the most salient areas of the field. The introduction reflects on the substantive themes which tie the chapters together and on what the very notions of ‘theory’ and ‘theoretical school’ bring to our understanding of anthropology as a discipline.

The book tracks a core lecture series given at Cambridge University and is essential reading for all undergraduate students undertaking a course on anthropological theory or the history of anthropological thought. It will also be useful more broadly for students of social and cultural anthropology, sociology, human geography and cognate disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.

Genres: Anthropology

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2018

Reviews

[Rye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read winter quarter of 2022 for history and theory. This course as a whole left me scrambling to grasp reality at times, but now I feel more prepared for studying anthropology. Since I took this course my second quarter into my major, I can now funnel all of my studies through these lenses. Theories are lenses.

[versarbre]

Not every department can co-produce such a book!

[云雲Yun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I should read some ethnographies first. This book is a bit dull but tease those theories quite good (there are so many books waiting for me qwq)