ANTB19H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Marcel Mauss, Kula Ring, Trobriand Islands
Document Summary
Kula exchange: the basics: kula is a form of exchange, marcel mauss was interested in showing a total social phenomenon in which all kinds of institutions in a society are given expression. Expressions include ideas about what is religious, juridical, moral, political, and ideas that have to do with families and kinship, aesthetics, etc: the total social phenomenon can be seen within the institution of kula exchange. All people of this society find their expression through kula: kula joins a number of different islands. These people are almost always high rank men or chiefs: the people who participate in kula have a large network of partners on other islands. To participate, you need at least two partners, one to the east of you and one to the west of you. They only pause for short amounts of time, periods in which the holder of the item takes care of it, but then must keep it moving again.
