Witchcraft, Sorcery, Rumors and Gossip

by Pamela J. Stewart, Andrew Strathern

Overview

Two classic topics in social anthropology are combined in this work—the study of witchcraft and sorcery and the study of rumors and gossip. After revealing the importance of rumor and gossip as catalysts for accusations of witchcraft and sorcery, it demonstrates their role in the genesis of social and political violence, as seen in peasant rebellions, as well as witch-hunts. The study draws upon examples from Africa, Europe, India, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521004732
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/24/2003
Series:	New Departures in Anthropology , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	248
Sales rank:	986,810
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

1. Witchcraft and sorcery: modes of analysis; 2. Rumours and gossip: an overview; 3. Africa; 4. India; 5. New Guinea; 6. European and American witchcraft; 7. Rumours and violence; 8. Conclusions: conflict and cohesion.

Editorial Reviews

'The topic of witchcraft needs up-dating in exactly this way. Witchcraft beliefs are too often studied in an arcane anthropological bye-water, but this approach offers a wide synthesis of an important field.' Mary Douglas, University College London

'These themes are of great relevance today …'. Oxfam's Development Resources Review

'… a brave and original attempt by a pair of anthropologists specializing in the study of New Guinea to introduce a new element into the analysis of that most elusive of concepts, 'witchcraft', by relating studies concerning various times and places to patterns of gossip and rumour. The general model [used is that] … all human communities indulge in gossip and spread rumours. When the gossip about a person gets sufficiently unpleasant, or perhaps when there is a clear threat against an entire society … the targets of hate speech are liable to become the victims of direct verbal or even physical attack … Where anthropological and historical specialists on 'witchcraft' risk going in different directions, each being too little aware of the existence of the other, Stewart and Strathern are admirably open-minded and inclusive. There is no better book for those who want to think about 'witchcraft' not as a curious and outmoded folly, but as something that is considered by many to exist, and which bears an uncomfortable relationship to forms of perceived deviance that are all too common in the most scientifically advanced countries, and can lead to forms of persecution that are all too tragic.' Stephen Ellis, Afrika-Studiocentrum, Leiden

From the Publisher