Natural symbols
explorations in cosmology
by Mary Douglas
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There are no such things as natural symbols. Every culture naturalises a certain view of the human body to make it carry social meanings. This work focuses on how the selections from blood, bones, breath or excrement, are made. Body symbolism is always in service to social intentions, and the body cannot be endowed with universal meanings.
In this now classic work Mary Douglas shows how certain forms of social life bring forth regularly the same varieties of symbolic expression. Hierarchy treats the body as a hierarchy; sect treats it as a closed system; individualism treats it as pervasive energy. Political movements as well as religions have their rituals, medicine, ethics, educational theory, aesthetics, a huge range of judgements fall into line behind the standard cultural bias.
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Subjects
Ethnology, Mythology, Religious aspects of Ethnology, Religious aspects, Religious aspects of the Human body, Religion and sociology, Symbolism, Human body, Body, Human, Ritual, Ethnology, religious aspects, Human body, folklore, Symbolen, Lichamelijkheid, Westerse wereld, Tribale groepen, Völkerkunde, Individuum, Gesellschaft, Symbolismus, Corps humain, Aspect religieux, Rituel, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES, Communication Studies, Cosmologia, Simbolisme, Antropologia, Cos humà, Aspectes religiosos, Ethnology--religious aspects, Bl256 .d68 2003, 302.2/22, 73.85| Edition | Availability |
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Natural symbols: explorations in cosmology
1982, Pantheon Books
in English
- 1st Pantheon paperbacks ed.
039471105X 9780394711058
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Natural symbols: explorations in cosmology
1973, Barrie and Jenkins
in English
- 2nd ed.
021466855X 9780214668555
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Book Details
Edition Notes
Bibliography: p. 202-208.
Includes index.
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First Sentence
"One of the gravest problems of our day is the lack of commitment to common symbols."
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