The anthropological and the consequential

Though this text raises several important issues, there is one aspect that I want to particularly interact with. It has do with a mode of valorizing anthropological inquiry in relation certain socio-political function it invited perform. While stressing they not imply “research should respond only current events,” Gupta and Stoolman nonetheless argue “the chase for novelty, which so often elevated primary importance, does always lead theories are consequential the world. We believe much work be done, theoretical as well applied, by keeping sharp focus on what politically socially most important.” reflect conception makes anthropology “consequential world.” think opposition between devalorized “chase novelty” an overvalorized “focus important” neither valuable nor authors is. made at expense valorization both “pure science”-like pursuit knowledge knowledge's sake from within politics consequentiality derive pursuit. An interested pursuing distinctly innovative specifically program research, would argue, ends up paradoxically producing more contribution social political problems than approach foregrounds those assigns sciences role servicing them. have way introducing students tradition useful framing thoughts am trying formulate here. My introduction takes form consciously naïve historicization emergence disciplinary traditions taught universities. tell my aim truthful history but story conveys truth. The goes something like this: if we hard, can connect every discipline study university, whether talking medicine, history, philosophy, engineering, architecture, literary studies, or sciences, thinking acting acquire start developing our childhood. This remains constitutive core problematics later defined tradition. For instance, moment hurt injure ourselves kids about causing pain how alleviate it, medically. All developments medical technologies extensions experience. true people who labor making practices systematic transmissible. also creating new medications seeing body, analyzing treating etc. When come university studying encounter (teachers) relaying us practical embodied books themselves worked before us. Marx ([1867] 1991) refers previous generations present objects, such these technologies, “dead labor.” dead “re-animated” when use make part own practices, move being folk practitioners professional practitioners. existence transmission body expertise, consisting ways knowing doing, constitute discipline. Acquiring turn into professionals. But problematic connected emerges first time One stories way. trace started general categories—“people neighborhood seem richer, poorer, neighborhood”—and wondering lies behind them origin sociological thinking. And likewise find forms historical architectural thinking, Perhaps good place see experience sleepover, similar order, friend's house. because sleepover involves slightly extended visit space “our home,” where feel dwelling nonfamiliar space, begin note whole series differences. When, day after, go back home telling parents siblings “you talk their mum” “they strange cooking eating eggs breakfast,” will formulating accounts. looking having breakfast comparative, perhaps even critical, eye result experiencing different starts consequential/political effect. As texts above, inherit experience, embodying various attempts systematic, rigorous, detailed, What then? crossing milieu own, struggling accounting expand categories imaginaries possible. inclined, entails deploying comparative lens through look homely spaces anew. try systematize others labored giving account experiences looking, learn practice give rigorous accounts ourselves, anthropologists. Through develop horizon generated itself. starting because, guess, points, rough unpolished significant way, distinct distinguishing dimensions Let me clear engage some purist definition anthropologists, many traditions. Indeed, impossible philosophical, . same time. Nor I, God forbid, aiming normative “real anthropology.” certainly highlight “anthropological stream” Zoe Todd's “rivers thought,” mentioned Stoolman, ramifications its existence. First, open critique. Open sense critique devalorization highlighted it. discipline's emergence, entanglement white European colonialism, “crossing cultures” largely consisted nonwhite cultures latter were dominated, looted, transformed colonialism. equally dominance analytical language primarily derived colonial imaginary. Furthermore, claim of/expertise other own. Europeans monopolizing profession inside outside critiques need made, struggled against, indeed referred Stoolman. However, none above necessitate idea analytics structured around another one's That colonialism was instrumental dominant subjects” mean no value conceptual put while convey crossing. What's more, theoretically speaking, anyone located whatever culture cross realm otherness produce knowledge. all since now know “go elsewhere” delve otherness. If looks hard enough, hidden amid institutionalized sameness spaces. But, course, variables disallow “theoretically speaking” possibility actually happening. These type, cultural origins, “analytical capital” available accumulation, capital distributed. Some others. easier accumulate struggle equal distribution struggles pluralize decolonize said, been argued (see Viveiros de Castro 2015), analysis yearn for. Nonetheless, mainly left “crossing” stop clinging bequeath devalorize standpoint inherited brings why might call “distinctive core” critical engagement presented Stoolman's text. read uncritical endorsement sees issues needs confront itself raison d’être. Such critically enough become colonizing machine, reducing academic inconsequential moment. profession, general, today subject vicious process economic, social, moral emanating governmental infused neoliberal criteria “usefulness” fused intolerance autonomy Western coupled with, reinforced by, administrations that, economic industrial-relations purposes, keen infantilizing labor. There doubt humanities borne brunt intense infantilization. With mind, careful further contribute comes “important” issues. importantly, difference—that is, injects Its far less original merely opening world belligerent categories, friend/enemy binary, extrinsic tradition, allowing colonize space. access publishing facilitated University Melbourne, Wiley - Melbourne agreement via Council Australian Librarians.