ANT 2103 Lecture 1: February 1
13 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Dominant topic of our times: population displacements as the central phenomenon of the 21st century. Anthropology of politics: why it matters. Refugees: a process, an universal, ahistorical. Refugee/migrant crisis continued: describe gender relations, kinship systems, not how we represent others but how we do it politically. Malkki"s argument: in contrast to hutu refugee"s own self-understanding (as products of a very specific history and circumstances of exile), humanitarian apparatus depoliticizes the refugee category and creates in its place an ahistorical, universal, humanitarian subject. Inserting hierarchical relationships even though they are all the same status: refugee as a pure [and] mute victim (378) that is supposed to look and behave in a certain way. Created this category very specific because it is also the place where we get to see the brutal and vulnerability of human life: visual images: mass of wretched humanity.
