The Nuer: A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People is an ethnographical study by the British anthropologist E. E. Evans-Pritchard (1902–73) first published in 1940. The work examined the political and familial systems of the Nuer people in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and is considered a landmark work of social anthropology. It was the first of three books authored by Evans-Pritchard on Nuer culture.
The first two chapters - 'Cattle' and 'Oecology' - provided an environmental setting for the Nuer, cattle pastoralists who carried on limited horticulture. Evans-Pritchard emphasised the extent to which cattle dominated both their economic activity and their social ideals:
They consider that horticulture is an unfortunate necessity involving hard and unpleasant labor and not an ideal occupation, and they tend to act on the conviction that the larger the herd, the smaller need be the garden.[1]
The third chapter, 'Time and Space',
The Nuer was the first of three books which Evans-Pritchard would publish on the Nuer. The others were published as Kinship and Marriage Among the Nuer (1951) and Nuer Religion (1956).
In the book's introduction, Evans-Pritchard warmly thanked the Nuer for the welcome he felt they gave him:
my warmest thanks are further rendered to the many Nuer who made me their guest and befriended me. Rather than speak of individuals, I express my general respect for this brave and gentle people.[2]
Reception
The Nuer is considered a landmark work of social anthropology and has been discussed extensively. Audrey Richards considered that the book, though "unsatisfying in some respects, it is a brilliant tonic, and in the best sense of the word, an irritating book". This judgment has been echoed by modern academics.[3] Renato Rosaldo has criticised Evans-Pritchard for rendering invisible, in the subsequent body of The Nuer, the colonial power dynamics which enabled his ethnographic research.[4]
^Renato Rosaldo, 'From the door of his tent: the fieldworker and the inquisitor', in J. Clifford and G. Marcus, eds., Writing Culture pp.77-97
Further reading
Free, T. (1991). "The Politics and Philosophical Genealogy of Evans-Pritchard's The Nuer" (PDF). Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford. 22 (1): 19–39.
Johnson, Douglas H. (1982). "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service". African Affairs. 81 (323): 231–46. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a097410. JSTOR 721729.
McKinnon, Susan (2000). "Domestic Exceptions: Evans-Pritchard and the Creation of Nuer Patrilineality and Equality". Cultural Anthropology. 15 (1): 35–83. doi:10.1525/can.2000.15.1.35. JSTOR 656640.
Morton, Christopher (2020). The Anthropological Lens: Rethinking E. E. Evans-Pritchard. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780198812913.
nuer, 1971, documentary, film, film, description, modes, livelihood, political, institutions, nilotic, people, ethnographical, study, british, anthropologist, evans, pritchard, 1902, first, published, 1940, work, examined, political, familial, systems, nuer, p. For the 1971 documentary film see The Nuer film The Nuer A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People is an ethnographical study by the British anthropologist E E Evans Pritchard 1902 73 first published in 1940 The work examined the political and familial systems of the Nuer people in the Anglo Egyptian Sudan and is considered a landmark work of social anthropology It was the first of three books authored by Evans Pritchard on Nuer culture The NuerAuthorE E Evans PritchardOriginal titleThe Nuer A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic PeopleSubjectSocial anthropologyPublisherClarendon PressPublication date1940Preceded byWitchcraft Oracles and Magic Among the Azande 1937 Followed byThe Sanusi of Cyrenaica 1949 Contents 1 The structure of the book 2 Reception 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksThe structure of the book EditThe first two chapters Cattle and Oecology provided an environmental setting for the Nuer cattle pastoralists who carried on limited horticulture Evans Pritchard emphasised the extent to which cattle dominated both their economic activity and their social ideals They consider that horticulture is an unfortunate necessity involving hard and unpleasant labor and not an ideal occupation and they tend to act on the conviction that the larger the herd the smaller need be the garden 1 The third chapter Time and Space The Nuer was the first of three books which Evans Pritchard would publish on the Nuer The others were published as Kinship and Marriage Among the Nuer 1951 and Nuer Religion 1956 In the book s introduction Evans Pritchard warmly thanked the Nuer for the welcome he felt they gave him my warmest thanks are further rendered to the many Nuer who made me their guest and befriended me Rather than speak of individuals I express my general respect for this brave and gentle people 2 Reception EditThe Nuer is considered a landmark work of social anthropology and has been discussed extensively Audrey Richards considered that the book though unsatisfying in some respects it is a brilliant tonic and in the best sense of the word an irritating book This judgment has been echoed by modern academics 3 Renato Rosaldo has criticised Evans Pritchard for rendering invisible in the subsequent body of The Nuer the colonial power dynamics which enabled his ethnographic research 4 References Edit The Nuer p 80 The Nuer p viii McKinnon 2000 p 35 Renato Rosaldo From the door of his tent the fieldworker and the inquisitor in J Clifford and G Marcus eds Writing Culture pp 77 97Further reading EditFree T 1991 The Politics and Philosophical Genealogy of Evans Pritchard s The Nuer PDF Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford 22 1 19 39 Johnson Douglas H 1982 Evans Pritchard the Nuer and the Sudan Political Service African Affairs 81 323 231 46 doi 10 1093 oxfordjournals afraf a097410 JSTOR 721729 McKinnon Susan 2000 Domestic Exceptions Evans Pritchard and the Creation of Nuer Patrilineality and Equality Cultural Anthropology 15 1 35 83 doi 10 1525 can 2000 15 1 35 JSTOR 656640 Morton Christopher 2020 The Anthropological Lens Rethinking E E Evans Pritchard Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 9780198812913 External links EditThe Nuer free e book at Archive org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Nuer amp oldid 1122784317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
