ANTH 1150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Potlatch, Consumerism
19 Apr 2016
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One person/family/community gathers a lot of stuff and then gives it all away under culturally specific rules. Need to be able to create surplus. Delayed exchanges (the people who give stuff away are expecting at some point in the future that they will receive something) Has some economic focuses to it, but it is about creating social debt moreso. Eg: the potlatch: ceremonial, economic redistribution go wealth associated w pacific coast na indigenous peoples. Includes host family invites guests; there is then some sort of public announcement, public validation of like a birth/naming/marriages/deaths > involve theatrical performances of family histories, feasts & a giveaway. Giveaway happens at end as a sign of respect to guests. You have to accept the gifts and take it with you. Buying/selling; supply and demand = implied competition for best prices. A fancy way of saying reciprocity important event. $ spent equals the value of the things you buy.
