A'aisa's Gifts: A Study of Magic and the Self
Thomas Maschio, Michele Stephen
Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute March 1, 1996 DOI: 10.2307/3034681 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mekeo people of Papua New Guinea, including ritual experts and laypersons |
| Duration | Twenty years' fieldwork |
| Citations | 49 |
| Key findings | Argues that magic plays a profound role in creating the self among the Mekeo, claiming this is the first demonstration of that role, and contends that dream reporting provides a natural context for self-reflection. Proposes the concept of "autonomous imagination" as a theoretical framework for exploring subjective imagery processes across cultures. |
Abstract
Filled with insight, provocative in its conclusions, A'aisa's Gifts is a groundbreaking ethnography of the Mekeo of Papua New Guinea and a valuable contribution to anthropological theory. Based on twenty years' fieldwork, this richly detailed study of Mekeo esoteric knowledge, cosmology, and self-conceptualizations recasts accepted notions about magic and selfhood. Drawing on accounts by Mekeo ritual experts and laypersons, this is the first book to demonstrate magic's profound role in creating the self. It also argues convincingly that dream reporting provides a natural context for self-reflection. In presenting its data, the book develops the concept of autonomous imagination into a new theoretical framework for exploring subjective imagery processes across cultures.