ANTROCOM

Volume 13, Number 1, 2017

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 When Concepts Trump Percepts: How Our Visions On The Body Are Changing In The Transition From The Analogic/Televised To The Digital/Reticular Era

by  FRANCO VIVIANI

The author considers different clues permitting to understand what could happen to our visions on the body in this transitional era. We are in fact passing from an analogic/televised era, in which biopolitics dominated the scenario and the bodies were under control, to the digital/reticular era, in which the control, according to some thinkers, could be exerted on emotions (psychopolitics will be for them the next form of control). Some aspects related to the odiern trends in politics are considered, particularly those influencing the incredible flux of information surrounding us, with impact on our bodies and minds. The role of cognitive sciences in coping with the transition is sketched, together with clues coming from sport, that is the trendiest human activity permitting a better understanding of the new perspectives offered to our bodies in terms of inclusion of “alterity” in them. This not only in terms of devices, but also molecules, thanks to the new techniques, belonging to both genetics, nano and bio technologies, and robotics.

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Il fagiolo del mescal fra i Nativi nordamericani

by GIORGIO SAMORINI

“The mescalbean among the North American Natives” - With the name “mescalbean cult” or “mescalism”, a group of ritual practices of the North American Planes Natives are named, during which a vegetal psychoactive source was employed. The human relationship with this visionary source originates starting from the most remote antiquity, and lasted until the end of the XIX century of our era. In the present study the historical, ethnographical, archaeological, and mythological aspects of these rites are reviewed, bringing clarifications on the problem of the relationship of mescalism with peyotism, and on some terminological and ethnobotanical confusions which dragged in the studies for several decades. Lastly, some ethological aspects concerning the animal relationship with the mescalbean are analyzed, and which could clarify the origins of the human relationship with this intoxicant source.

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Reincarnazione senza immortalità. Morte e sorte oltremondana tra i Mandan

by MARCO MENICOCCI  

The first Christian missionaries who went to North America claimed that the Indians believed in reincarnation and that it was the core of their religions. A survey among the Mandan shows that their limited notions about the after-life and reincarnation do not present any eschatological significance. These notions have the only function of designing the cosmos and enhancing some kinship relations. In fact, it is even dubious whether the Mandans had the notion of a life after death.
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Il mat ovvero il turpiloquio russo tra cultura e censura

by ENRICO TIBO  

My purpose in this article is to frame the mat, the Russian foul language, within a more general linguistic background, and discard those beliefs that describe it as a linguistic system far from the standard Russian language. I make some observations on the foul language in general, on its definitions from an anthropological, sociological, linguistic point of view, then I briefly deal with some cases concerning classical antiquity and modern use. Finally, I focus on the Russian mat, its popular use and cultured one, its political history, from the Tsar to contemporary Russia, and briefly mention the problems we can find when we translate it into another language, taking into account the substantial differences with which the two languages work as to the foul language.
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Homo communicans (I parte) Ricostruzione tecnologica del motivo a fasci tratteggiati sulla lamina calcarea Spe 04 14 0 ‘P’ di grotta s. Pellegrino (Laterza - Taranto)

by VINCENZO STASOLLA and ENRICA FALCO

The aim of this research is to reconstruct the gestures involved in the production of the engravings on a fragment of limestone layer covered with red ocher, attributable to the final stages of the Upper Paleolithic. A number of discriminating elements could be listed by means of observations from the real and the microscope, and by comparing experimental and archeological incisions. It was also possible to update the longitudinal action dictionary. You can view the images of this research in high definition by downloading them from: https://www. researchgate.net/publication/316215401_Homo_communicans_I_parte-ALLEGATO.

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The «ΚΥΚΝΟΙ» of Delos: Alteration of the Identity of Delos

by XARIS M. KOUTELAKIS

During the last twenty years I have tried through a series of articles and books of mine (mentioned in the bibliography below) to draw scientific attention to the significance of the name Cycnades / Kyknades, as opposed to Cyclades, when referring to the islands under the same name, in whose center lies Delos. This renaming has been very significant, since it has resulted in the suppression of older traditions, due to Ionian propaganda. In this article, inevitably brief owing to specifications relating to its publication, known archaeological data are thoroughly reexamined. Moreover, religious beliefs are reinterpreted on the basis of archaeological material; and the identity of Delos as a sacred island and a free trade area (similar to modern Switzerland) is emphasized.

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Struggles of Female Household Heads in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

by TANZIMA ZOHRA HABIB

This paper explores the struggles faced by the female heads of households in Bangladesh. Data included the life stories of 22 purposively selected female household heads from two communities in northwest Bangladesh. Qualitative thematic analysis of the data revealed that the struggles of female heads differed in terms of their class position, place of living, and the route to headship. It indicated that the female heads from lower-class households used to face both financial and social constraints while the better-off heads faced social constraints like difficulties in child rearing and provoking male behavior. The study also explored that the female heads in urban areas were more vulnerable to male indecent behaviors than their rural counterparts. On the other hand, the de jure female heads were appeared to be more insecure and experienced the social stigma compared to the de facto heads. The study suggests that appropriate welfare policies/ interventions are needed to create income-earning opportunities for the female heads as well as to create a positive social environment where these women can work and move freely.

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Review. Christian Feest. 2017. Frederick Weygold. Artist and Ethnographer of North American indians. Altenstadt, Germany. ZKF Publishers.

by SANDRA BUSATTA

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