Symbols and Meaning: A Concise Introduction [Paperback]

Womack has done an excellent job of lucidly explaining major themes in the analysis of symbols from the anthropological literature. Her approach is admirably balanced, even-handed and well-informed. She uses examples from a wide range of cross-cultural ethnographic writings. This book will find its place as an up to-date textbook for instructional use as well as a handy reference for practitioners in general and a thoughtful discussion for general readers interested in the topic. It is also enhanced by the author's discussion of her own field researches with a spiritualist group in Los Angeles and with professional athletes.In her latest book, Mari Womack successfully integrates a theoretical history of academic approaches to symbols with dozens of rich, ethnographic examples from around the world. Symbols and Meaning stands as an elegant contribution to the canon of introductory anthropology, which aims to provoke reflection on not only the wide range of cultural symbols but also the reasons why people hold symbols as powerful markers of identity and essential to everyday life.Womack has succeeded in providing an introduction to the anthropology of symbolism that is comprehensive, clearly-written, elegant, and fair. Taking an eclectic approach, she guides the reader through the leading theoretical ideas in the development of symbolic anthropology, always anchoring her theoretical discussions with ethnographic examples, both classic and new. Her ability to bridge between ancient or distant cultural traditions and our contemporary world is striking, and at times breathtaking. Her style is unpretentious and economical, yet always interesting and intelligent. Teachers of symbolic anthropology will delight in this trustworthy and open-minded presentation, as will any nonspecialist looking for a starting place from which to approach this rich and profound subject.Symbolism is a complex and often subtle subject to understand. Mari Womack has written a lucid and readily unlS6