Neil L. Whitehead And Robin Wright (eds.), In Darkness And Secrecy: The Anthropology Of Assault Sorcery And Witchcraft In Amazonia

摘要

Shamanism continues to reflect modernity's fascination with tradition most visibly epitomised through post-colonial 'new age' spiritual religions and adventure tourism. This edited volume by Whitehead and Wright sets the record straight by emphasising negative and dark features of shamanism - such as predation, violence, killing and sorcery-related illness - aspects that are increasingly purified, erased or ignored by the neo-shamanistic movement and its increasingly significant presence in supra-local political economies. However, the real contribution made by the authors of this volume, is in providing historical and ethnographic support for the sometimes-malevolent ontological basis for society among Lowland South American peoples.