The Gebusi
Lives Transformed in a Rainforest World
Bruce M. Knauft(Author)
McGraw Hill Higher Education (Publisher)
Published on 15. July 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-07-297263-4 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
What is it like for a native people of the rainforest to confront features of a modern world? In 1980-82, the Gebusi of Papua New Guinea held elaborate ritual dances and spirit seances, practiced alternative sexual customs, and endured a very high rate of violence. By 1998, however, most Gebusi had been willingly transformed by Christian conversion, schooling, market activity, disco music, sports leagues, and local government. This book vividly portrays both the traditions and the dramatic changes of Gebusi society and culture. Written especially for students, the account uses personal stories and ethnographic examples to connect developments among Gebusi to topics that are widely considered in anthropology courses, including comparative features of subsistence, kinship, economics, politics, religion, gender, ethnicity, and nationalism.The author lived among the Gebusi for several years, on two occasions.
His account of his experience with these fascinating people aims to illustrate issues and topics prominent in undergraduate anthropology courses; provide a dramatic, personal, and well-written story of cultural transformation; and unfold the relation between so-called traditional customs and so-called modern ones. His goal in publishing the ethnography is 'to let the Gebusi come alive to readers, to portray their past and their present, and to connect their dramatic changes with those in my own life and those in contemporary anthropology'.
His account of his experience with these fascinating people aims to illustrate issues and topics prominent in undergraduate anthropology courses; provide a dramatic, personal, and well-written story of cultural transformation; and unfold the relation between so-called traditional customs and so-called modern ones. His goal in publishing the ethnography is 'to let the Gebusi come alive to readers, to portray their past and their present, and to connect their dramatic changes with those in my own life and those in contemporary anthropology'.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United States
Publishing group
McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 167 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
313 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-07-297263-4 (9780072972634)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Bruce Knauft
The Gebusi: Lives Transformed in a Rainforest World
Book
05/2009
2nd Edition
McGraw-Hill Professional
€42.15
Article is exhausted; no reprint
Content
List of Maps, Figures, and Photographs Website Contents Preface Entry Introduction: In Search of Surprise Part I: 1980-82 Chapter 1. Friends in the Forest Chapter 2. Rhythms of Survival Chapter 3. Lives of Death Chapter 4. Getting along with Kin and Killers Chapter 5. Spirits, Sex, and Celebration Chapter 6. Ultimate Splendor Part II: 1998 Chapter 7. Reentry Chapter 8. Yuway's Sacred Decision Chapter 9. Pennies and Peanuts, Rugby and Radios Chapter 10. Mysterious Romance, Marital Choice Chapter 11. Sayu's Dance and After Chapter 12. Toward the End Conclusions: Sixteen Years and a World of Change Farewell Notes List of Persons Topical guide for Instructors References Index