Approaches to Amazonian Magic and Shamanism
Anthropology and Humanism Quarterly September 1, 1987 DOI: 10.1525/ahu.1987.12.3-4.91
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThis abstract lists two books on Amazonian societies and shamanism. Michael F. Brown's 'Tsewa's Gift' examines magic and meaning among the Aguaruna people of Peru, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork. Michael Taussig's 'Shamanism, Colonialism, and the Wild Man' explores the interplay of shamanism, colonial history, and terror in Colombia, arguing that colonial violence and indigenous healing practices are intertwined. Both works contribute to anthropological understanding of indigenous spirituality and the effects of colonialism.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Aguaruna people of Peru and indigenous peoples in Colombia |
| Key finding | The books argue that shamanism and magic in Amazonian societies are deeply connected to colonial history and cultural meaning. |
Abstract
Michael F. Brown. Tsewa's Gift: Magic and Meaning in an Amazonian Society. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1986. 220 pp. $19.95 (cloth).Michael Taussig. Shamanism, Colonialism, and the Wild Man:. Study in Terror and Healing. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1987. xix plus 517 pp. $29.95 (cloth).