ANT 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Fungibility, Conspicuous Consumption, Kula Ring

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANT 1101
• Professor: Deborah Sick

Document Summary

Human material wants are unlimited, means are not, i. e. supply/demand determines value: people choose among alternative courses, act to maximized individual well-being. People make choices, but choices governed by differing values: culture & social structures provide framework w/in which choices are made. Raw materials: land, water & other resources. Neither the value of the good or the time of payment is specified. You give somebody something, not expecting: balanced. Inter-island, long distance, mutual gift giving (cid:862)e(cid:454)(cid:272)ha(cid:374)ge(cid:863) of prestige ite(cid:373)s: shell (cid:374)e(cid:272)kla(cid:272)es & shell ar(cid:373)s (cid:271)a(cid:374)ds. Men have kula partners on different islands. Value tied to histories; names of who possessed (not owned) Social prestige for men (cid:862)i(cid:374)sura(cid:374)(cid:272)e(cid:863) i(cid:374) u(cid:374)(cid:272)ertai(cid:374) e(cid:272)o(cid:374)o(cid:373)(cid:455) Facilitates trade of foods & other goods. Redistribution: societies w/ surpluses, ce(cid:374)tral authorit(cid:455) or (cid:858)big ma(cid:374)(cid:859) From local level centre others/investments: often associated with prestige economies: spending = prestige, potlach, competitive feasting. Competitive giving: theories of, 1) maximize prestige, not material wealth.