Coastal cultures. An anthropology of fishing and whaling traditions

Beschrijving

Over het boekFisher folk have frequently been romanticized in a rather heroicfashion as a kind of 39;39;noble savages39;39; at home. However, in theharsh reality of everyday life, they were usually poor and oftenstigmatized for being quaint, backward and uncivilized.But, despite the occupation39;39;s social status and imagery, fisher folkstill take pride in it and thoroughly enjoy what they do. Fishing isnot merely a job, it is also a way of life, as has been noted timeand again by anthropologists.This study combines ethnography and anthropological analysis.It throws light on cultural dimensions of fishing and whaling inEurope and the United States.The chapters deal with such classic anthropological themes astradition, ritual, taboo, ideology, identity, animal symbolism andhow these topics intermingle with cultural and environmentalpolitics in either positive or negative ways.Over de auteursRob van Ginkel is an anthropologist and associate professor at the Dept. ofSociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam. He has publishedwidely on fisheries-related topics. With Jojada Verrips, he was a foundingeditor of Maritime Anthropological Studies MAST.