description Reo Fortune Overview
Reo Fortune was a New Zealand social anthropologist whose fieldwork in Melanesia included research on Dobu in the Massim region of Papua New Guinea. His book Sorcerers of Dobu, published in 1932, described social relations, exchange, religion, and sorcery in Dobuan life and became an important ethnography in the history of anthropology. He also conducted research in the Admiralty Islands, including Manus.
help Reo Fortune FAQ
What is Sorcerers of Dobu about?
Reo Fortune's Sorcerers of Dobu describes social relations, exchange, religion, and sorcery in Dobuan life. The book was published in 1932 and became an influential early ethnography of the Massim region.
Where did Reo Fortune conduct his Dobu research?
He studied Dobu in the Massim region of what is now Papua New Guinea. The research focused on how kinship, exchange, religious beliefs, and accusations of sorcery shaped relationships.
Was Reo Fortune a New Zealand anthropologist?
Yes, Reo Fortune was a New Zealand social anthropologist who conducted fieldwork in Melanesia. His 1932 book on Dobu is the work most directly associated with his reputation.
Does Sorcerers of Dobu discuss more than supernatural beliefs?
Yes, the book treats sorcery alongside exchange, religion, conflict, and everyday social relations. Its central value is showing how beliefs about sorcery operated within Dobuan social life rather than existing as an isolated topic.
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