description Michael Taussig Overview
Michael Taussig is an Australian-born anthropologist and professor at Columbia University, recognized for his literary approach to ethnographic writing. He is heavily influenced by critical theory, particularly the writings of Walter Benjamin, and focuses on the intersection of colonialism, violence, and indigenous belief systems in South America. His influential 1980 book, "The Devil and Commodity Fetishism in South America," examined how peasant populations metaphorically used the devil to understand the exploitative nature of capitalist wage labor. Taussig's later work continues to explore themes of shamanism, mimesis, and sensory perception.
insights Ranking position
Michael Taussig ranks #76 of 304 in the Anthropologist ranking, behind David Schneider, ahead of Robert Lowie.
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Where does Michael Taussig work as a professor?
Michael Taussig is an Australian-born anthropologist who has served as a long-time professor at Columbia University. He is renowned for his highly literary, experimental approach to ethnographic writing.
Where did Michael Taussig conduct his most famous fieldwork?
He conducted extensive fieldwork in Colombia and Venezuela, studying the lives of peasants, shamans, and workers. His research heavily focused on the violence and political economy of the Putumayo region.
What is the concept of the mimetic faculty in Taussig's work?
In his 1993 book "Mimesis and Alterity," Taussig explores the "mimetic faculty," which is the human ability to imitate and copy others as a way of understanding and gaining power over them. He links this to colonial history and magic.
Which critical theorist heavily influenced Michael Taussig's writings?
Taussig's work is deeply influenced by the German philosopher and critical theorist Walter Benjamin. He frequently incorporates Benjamin's ideas about history, aura, and modernity into his ethnographic studies of violence and shamanism.
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