Ivo A. Strecker Livres

This festschrift is situated within the contexts of the 'Writing Culture' debate, the 'Rhetoric Culture' project, and the legacy of anthropologist Stephen Tyler's work on language and representation. While Writing Culture (1986) alerted readers to the power of ethnographers over their field, Writing in the Field alerts readers to the power of the field over its ethnographers. Rather than reprise familiar debates about writing and representation, the book's individual chapters elucidate how anthropological fieldwork is a highly fraught, provisional, and incomplete practice enmeshed in the gaps between self and the other. The book's emphasis on the concepts of pathos, epiphany, and dissociation is developed through essays that are personal, yet not merely subjective, for they draw on and contribute to deep traditions of thinking about culture and rhetoric. (Series: Ethnologie: Forschung und Wissenschaft - Vol. 24) *** "This fine collection of essays is a fitting tribute to the positive influence of Stephen Tyler, an original and influential anthropologist of protean gifts." - E. Douglas Lewis, School of Social and Political Sciences, U. of MelbourneÃ?Â?

At the end of the 19th Century, southern Ethiopia was among the last regions to be affected by the "Scramble for Africa," as Emperor Menelik II expanded his empire. The peoples of this area endured nearly a century of centralized rule under the Emperor and later the Marxist Dergue regime. However, in 1991, a new constitution was enacted, abolishing barriers of class, gender, ethnicity, religion, and birthplace. This raised critical questions about achieving a transformation to a new social order, its obstacles, and prospects. Understanding how the culturally diverse peoples of Ethiopia remember their past and perceive one another is essential. The essays in this volume explore the complexities of cultural contact, focusing on the concepts of pride, honor, identity, and self-esteem as individuals and groups strive to maintain their identities. The central theme is the notion of "face," symbolizing respect and self-worth in social interactions. Contributions include discussions on cultural contact, identity formation through personal names, communication across divides, historical confrontations, and the significance of rituals and symbols in expressing self-esteem. These insights illuminate the delicate dynamics of identity and interaction among Ethiopia's diverse cultures.