A'Aisa's Gifts: A Study of Magic and the Self (Studies in Melanesian Anthropology, No 13)

Rating:
Summary: An Uncommanly Great Ethnograthy
Review: Michele Stephen does a fantastic job weaving a wonderful story, personal narrative, and intellegent analysis in this anthropological work. She is reflexive in her work, reminding the readers where she is coming from, what biases she may be burdened with by her own culture, and to work with the readers on their potential level(s). I have read a great number of ethnographies, and I have to say this is without a doubt the best WRITTEN one I have come across - combining analysis with prose that remains interesting, explanatory, and provoking. I have hesitated to give it the punch of five starts because I feel that Stephen had goals too high at times, almost teasing the reader with explanations of every facet of Mekeo culture while actually concentrating solely on the element of magic and the mind. But, without a doubt, her cultural analyses were very good and intellegent - I was very impressed with her ability to weave so many theorists and philosophies into a story that stays essentially focused on the people and the complexity of their relationships.