Marcel Mauss, A French Sociologist

II. The doll symbolizes the clay toys the indigenous children received from their parents, reflecting their childhood; the exchange of gifts parallels my own childhood.

The anthropology of gifts has been mostly studied in the context of non-Western cultures. The important roles of gift giving were highlighted by classical anthropologists such as Malinowski, Mauss and Levi-Strauss. They stressed the significance of reciprocity and obligation suggested in gift exchange and that gift giving is a one practice of material expression that integrates a society.

Theories and objectives that I have embedded into my performance include the transformation of spectator into the actor, image theatre, forum theatre and importance of proper speculation. It all begins with my cultural artifact, my stuffed animal bear. My stuffed bear may not have a dramatic history like many other objects out there in the world, but it does hold an important value for many if not all. We all grew up having that one toy we deeply loved and were emotionally connected with and for me, it was my bear. I first came into contact with it starting at a very young age and, therefore, I am unable to put a date on it. Regardless, it is a priceless possession that I own and it 's unknown value only appreciates with time. Stuffed animals are objects that are most commonly given to children as gift and presents. What people do not realize is that it is more than just a sentimental gift but rather a tool, a friend, and a companion to those receiving it. It is a tool because it aids young kids to embrace their emotional side which they are often told to withhold especially if they are boys. More than that, it is a friend and a lifelong companion, stuffed animals are typically given to children before they are actually capable of making friends and, therefore, it is usually considered their first attempt or first contact (Miller, 1999). According to Smith (2011), people in modern day society overlook the importance of stuffed animals and its contribution cultivating our

The receiver of the gift is better off in a utilitarian sense, if he chooses not to return the favor. Yet why does he have the desire to repay? Why does receiving a gift put him at a social disadvantage? The economy of gift of Bataille differs from Nietzsche’s creditor-debtor relationship with regard to the psychology behind these two dynamics. While Bataille delved into the mentality of the giver, who has the upper hand in this power relation, Nietzsche focused on the psychology of the debtor. Bataille construed the economy of gifting as an act out of man’s “animal factor” that goes beyond the want of acquisition – a human instinct to win and to overpower. It is in man’s nature to covet “prestige, glory and rank” (Bataille, 1997, p. 376), yet they do not come without comparison and competition. Thus, the giver of the gift has to deliberately create a rivalry, and thus, an inequality that favors himself in order to acquire prestige, glory and rank. It is this desire for superiority that gives man the ultimate incentive to give away his wealth. Gifting is to win by losing. It also explains the increment value in the return of the gift, for the receiver of the initial gift not only wants to recover his equality with the initial giver, but also to overpower him, to defeat him. The same desire that fuels the endless cycle of gifting rituals like moka and potlatch. One good potlatch deserves another, and

A gift that is pure, with no strings attached given with untainted caring is so much more meaningful than a gift that is given with ties attached to it. Most Secwepemc gave their gifts in the former approach. Gifts were given without any expectation. Such was the way of the Secwepemc that we expected to count on those that had accepted our help. The gift to the ‘unknown stranger’ was not given with a demand to help the tribe. It is more than just an understanding, it is a deep respect. There were no ties attached to the gift given to the ‘unknown stranger’ it was more of an understanding to help those that have helped you.

The Junior Scholastic article, “Is Regifting Rude?”, states how many people think that regifting is rude to the original giver, but some say that it is perfectly fine to regift a gift given to you. On the “yes, it is rude” side of the article, they state that if you regift you are giving away your beloved thing that your giver gave you. Mostly your relative will give you a present that took them awhile to pick out but if you choose to throw it away, you are letting them down. Regifting is fine if you ask the giver if you can give it away or if they attached a receipt to it. Don’t forget if you want to ask to regift you must be polite. And now for the “no, it isn’t rude” side of the debate, regifting is for others who

E. Franklin Frazier, who was he and how did he contribute to the way society views the African Americans? We will answer these questions by going over his famous books and articles. Admiring W.E. B. Du Bois order of the coming together and the breaking apart of the African American, Frazier began his own works and studies about what African Americans faced. In 1932 Frazier published 2 books, The Negro Family in Chicago (Frazier, 1932) and The Free Negro Family (Frazier, 1993). Later he published a greater work The Negro Family in the United States (1939). That book, however became a great debate over certain topics that were touched on. Frazier wanted the blacks to come together and hopefully assimilate into the American mainstream. He also worried that the blacks could not adapt to the need of the government as the whites do. Later on this lead him to concentrate on having a full family with both household showing the child how to deal with adversity. Frazier later published a book Black Bourgeoisie telling the black leaders to improve your black brethren and lift them up (Frazier, 1953). At times the black community will blame the white man for keeping them down when in all reality it was either each other or themselves. Frazier was afraid of this and decided to write this book to reach out to the black communities and their leaders. Frazier relates to how slavery was considered good and justified to be right dating back all to the 1800s (Frazier, 1947). American Sociology

People hold on to pieces of jewelry, furniture, and other symbolic collectables that is passed through generations. These things can remind a person of a loved one that is seen as being priceless.

My artifact is brown and black with almost 2 decades’ worth of memories; this object is my stuffed Rottweiler named Max. This artifact, although motionless with four legs, has walked to the moon and back with me as a child full of imagination. This artifact stores the most precious memories and has been with me at every step in my life. Max is very meaningful to me because we have shared many memories, from birth until now. My stuffed animal has been with me through every ups and downs in life, every change that has ever occurred to me, has been a part my past and present; and represents my future.

Kachina Dolls, or as referred to by the Hopi people, ‘tithu’, are hand-carved gifts exchanged amongst the Hopi as well as several other regional Native American tribes. With some of the oldest figures dating back to the mid-19th century, the Kachina Doll is an integral part in Southwestern Native American culture. While there are hundreds of Kachina variants, the Buffalo Kachina is arguably one of the most significant versions in the Hopi belief system. Furthermore, Kachina Dolls fully embody the communal structure and generous spirit of the Hopi people. Today the majority of Kachina Dolls produced are crafted more for their artistic value opposed to their spiritual value; nonetheless, the Kachina is an important and fascinating piece of American

Government is built on the premises of the established ideas of former politicians and then the new outlooks of recent politicians. All ideas on government are based on the structure and laws of former civilizations. Thus, many politicians can have similar viewpoints on government due to basing their ideas on the same former structures. But, in contrast new government structures include a variety of variations. Therefore, Jean Domat, Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau have major differences in their outlooks on government, but they do share similar aspects.

Topic #1 Jean-Jacques Rousseau makes the provocative claim that the transfer of sovereignty involves in the election of representatives signifies a loss of freedom: "The instant a people chooses representatives, it is no longer free." (On the Social Contract, p.103) Do you agree with Rousseau?

When receiving something such as an object, instrument, tool, etc, there can be much sediment behind it or the value it had in an individual’s life. In the play “Othello”, a handkerchief was an important symbol, that was given to “Othello” by his mother that represented their heritage (Christian and Venetian Citizen). He kept this handkerchief after her death. He met Desdemona and instantly fell in love with her. Which later in the play, she was given the handkerchief for safekeeping and a representation that if she were ever to lose the handkerchief it would mean she would’ve given her body away,, and as well to express the love and trust he had for her.

Richard Rogers’ song “Favorite Things” talks about how the narrator’s favorite things make them feel better when times aren’t the best. People often have a memento from childhood that they keep throughout their life, such as a stuffed animal or a tea set. These possessions represent a memory or event from one’s life -whether it be from early on or from later in life- which in turn remind them of the feelings from the times they received it. These tokens from their early life often mean the world to them, and this is an accurate description of how I feel about my “Blankie.” My blanket is a source of comfort, every small imperfection has a memory behind it, and these impressions make the blanket unique to my life and my experiences. While most of the details that reside on my blanket are small and often remain unnoticed, each one makes it more important to me.

For many years, sociologists have been studying the importance of human interaction and how it contributes to society. Sociologist like Erving Goffman and Harold Garfinkel, and Max Weber have made great contributions to helping us understand how society is created through social interaction, routines, organization and order. In my report, I will be demonstrating how society and social order are maintained through social interaction, and relationships in a retail store named “Urban planet”.