Fluid Ontologies

Attempts to go beyond the idiosyncratic nature of myths in these Papua New Guinea societies and cast the debate about the role of myth in more philosophical terms.

Booknews

Eight Australian and US contributors expand the literature on the Western Highland societies, of fascination due to the relatively recent "discovery" of nearly a million culturally distinct people coinciding with the field work boom in anthropology. Drawn from conferences convened by one of the authors (Biersack; 1991, 1994: Canberra), this ethnography describes the variability<--> internally and longitudinally<-->of such Melanesian groups from diverse theoretical perspectives. Myths (e.g. of tricksters, genesis, and regeneration) are analyzed as reflections of social roles, moral topography, and changing geographies of power and spiritual influence. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

L.R. GOLDMAN is Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Queensland, Australia.

C. BALLARD is Professor of Anthropology at the Australian National University.