What we can't do as individuals or societies defines who we are far
more than what we can do. But what makes, say, polygamy acceptable
to one group and not another? Why are Jews forbidden to eat pork,
while other groups eschew different foods? Then there are all the
taboos connected to bodily functions, sex and appearance, and even
taboos on what can and cannot be represented in works of art. The
list is fascinating and endless. Drawing on a range of disciplines
including folklore, psychology and anthropology, this A-Z guide
describes more than 100 taboos, discussing their origin and
meaning, with cross references and a bibliography for each entry.
(Kirkus UK)
From ancient times to the present, taboos have affected our
societies, as demonstrated in this encyclopedia full of unusual
information from around the world. The topic of taboos has rarely
been discussed in any comprehensive way in recent years, as though
the word itself has become taboo in our efforts to dispel the myth
of the irrationality of supposedly 'primitive' cultures. The
Encyclopedia of Taboos is a mine of unusual information from around
the world, including a comprehensive analysis of individual taboos
from the ancient world to the present day, covering both well- and
lesser-known examples. The A-Z articles cover the topics naturally
associated with the concept of taboo-incest, cannibalism,
pollution, food, art, dress, sex, and death-and also the foremost
writers on the subject, including Sigmund Freud, Mary Douglas,
Edmund Leach, Franz Steiner, and Frederick Barth. 150 A-Z entries
including separate entries on the foremost writers on the subject,
including Sigmund Freud, Mary Douglas, Edmund Leach, Franz Steiner,
and Frederick Barth Includes an introduction and bibliography
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