Description
Book Synopsis As issues and circumstances investigated by anthropologists are becoming ever more diverse, the need to address social affiliation in contemporary situations of mobility, urbanity, transnational connections, individuation, media, and capital flows, has never been greater. Thinking Through Sociality combines a review of classical theories with recent theoretical innovations across a wide range of issues, locales, situations and domains. In this book, an international group of contributors train attention on the concepts of disjuncture, field, social space, sociability, organizations and network, mid-range concepts that are “good to think with.” Neither too narrowly defined nor too sweeping, these concepts can be used to think through a myriad of ethnographic situations.
Trade Review “[The volume] advances conceptual tools for contemporary anthropology and in provides a valuable source of overviews of the examined concepts, stimulating reading on how to think the configuration of social life.” · Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
“I don’t know of a book that explores [sociality] so centrally and effectively… Each chapter and concept has multiple applications across a range of research and conceptualization… Overall, I enjoyed reading this unpacking of sociality through different lenses very much, and I am sure others will too.” · Caroline Knowles, Goldsmiths, University of London
Table of Contents Acknowledgements
Introduction:Thinking through Sociality: The Importance of Mid-Level Concepts
Vered Amit with Sally Anderson, Virginia Caputo, John Postill, Deborah Reed-Danahay, and Gabriela Vargas-Cetina
Chapter 1. Disjuncture: The Creativity of, and Breaks in, Everyday Associations and Routines
Vered Amit
Chapter 2. Fields: Dynamic Configurations of Practices, Games and Socialities
John Postill
Chapter 3. Social Space: Distance, Proximity, and Thresholds of Affinity
Deborah Reed-Danahay
Chapter 4. Sociability: The Art of Form
Sally Anderson
Chapter 5. Organizations: From Corporations to Ephemeral Associations
Gabriela Vargas-Cetina
Chapter 6. Network: The Possibilities and Mobilizations of Connections
Vered Amit and Virginia Caputo
Epilogue: Sociality and Uncertainty: Between Avowing and Disavowing Concepts in Anthropology
Nigel Rapport
Notes on Contributors
