The Anthropology of Time Cultural Constructions of Temporal Maps and Images

352 Pages·2022·8.925 MB·English

by  Alfred Gell

The Anthropology of Time
EXPLORAITNAI NOTNHSR OPOLOGY
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Alfred Gell
First published in 1992 by Berg Publishers
Published 2020 by Routledge
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© Alfred Gell 1992, 1996
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Gell, Alfred
The anthropology of time: cultural constructions of temporal maps and
images. - (Explorations in anthropology)
I. Title II. Series
115
ISBN 13: 978-0-8549-6890-9 (pbk)
Contents
Figures and Tables vii
Acknowledgements viii
Part I Differences in the Cognition of Time Attributed
to Society and Culture
1. Durkheim 3
2. Evans-Pritchard 15
3. Levi-Strauss 23
4. Leach 30
5. Time-reversal in Umeda Ritual 37
6. Cultural Relativism 54
7. Transcendental Temporal Cultural Relativism 61
8. Bali: the 'Motionless Present' 69
9. Anti-Durkheimian Anti-relativism 78
10. Contrasted Regimes 84
11. Psychological Evidence for the Universality of
Time Cognition 93
12. Piagetian Developmental Psychology 97
13. Critique of the Piagetian Approach to Time
Cognition 104
14. Linguistic Arguments for the Cognitive
Universality of Time 118
15. The Development of Time-talk 132
Part II Time-maps and Cognition
16. Time in Philosophy: the A-series vs. the B-series 149
V
vi Contents
17. The B-series 156
18. The A-series 166
19. B-theory Economics vs. A-theory Economics 175
20. Chrono-geography 190
21. The Economics of Temporal Opportunity Costs 206
22. Opportunity Costs and the Fatefulness of Human
Existence 217
23. Husserl's Model of Internal Time-consciousness 221
24. The Temporal-perceptual Cycle 229
25. The Modalization and Counterfactuality of
Time-maps 242
Part III Time and Practice
26. The Natural Attitude and the Theory of Practice 263
27. The Theory of Practice and the Timing of
Exchanges 275
28. A-series: B-series:: Gemeinschaft: Gesellschaft:: Them:
Us 286
29. Calendars and Consensual Co-ordination 294
30. Calendars and Power 306
31. Conclusions 314
References 329
Index 336
Figures and Tables
Figures
2.1 Space, genealogy and time 20
5.1 The Umeda annual cycle 39
5.2 Umeda hair-styles and masks 44
5.3 Time inversion 49
12.1 Piaget's experiment 99
19.1 Expectational vs. mechanical time 176
19.2 Potential surprise for two competing projects 185
19.3 Gambler's indifference map 188
20.1 Higerstrand's time-map 194
20.2 Jane's prism 196
20.3 (a) vertical and (b) horizontal partitioning of the
time-supply 200
20.4 Time-supply and time-demand 201
21.1 The Becker model 207
23.1 Husserl's model of internal time-consciousness 225
24.1 Husserl's model as a perceptual cycle 234
24.2 A general model of time recognition 239
25.1 Modal accessibility relation in S.5, S.4 and
S.4.3 modal systems 250
25.2 The branching future and/or past 251
25.3 Temporal cognitive map 257
Tables
5.1 Synoptic table of the Ida ritual 40
17.1 The A-series vs. the B-series 157
vii
Acknowledgements
The composition of this book has occupied me> off and on, for
more years than I care to contemplate, and over the course of
this time I have amassed a number of debts. Of these, perhaps
the most outstanding is the debt I owe to Bruce Kapferer, the
editor of the series 'Explorations in Anthropology', who encour-
aged me to revise and publish the original manuscript of this
book, which I had sadly concluded was not likely to appeal to
anyone outside my immediate circle. Latterly, reading over the
completed manuscript, I am more sanguine than hitherto, that
among these pages there will be some capable of beguiling, even
instructing, a more diverse audience than I feared in my more
despondent moments. Bruce Kapferer' s editorial stimulus has
been all the more noteworthy in that I am well aware that on
theoretical questions I have frequently taken positions which are
diametrically opposed to his own. His comments I have taken
into account as best I could, and very useful they were too, but I
am also particularly conscious of his editorial forbearance, and
grateful for it. I can say the same for Jadran Mimica, who
brought my manuscript to his attention initially. I can only
conclude that these two have behaved in a genuinely altruistic
manner throughout, and what framer of 'Acknowledgements'
can say more than that?
Among my other debts are those I owe to present and past
colleagues at the London School of Economics, notably Maurice
Bloch, whom I have repayed in typical departmental fashion
with a bouquet of criticism and carping. He read the original
manuscript and discussed many detailed points with me.
Christina Toren also read the original version, and advised me
on psychological questions. She is not, however to be held
responsible in any way for my discussion of cognition. I am also
particularly grateful to Ward Keeler, who provided me with the
viii
Acknowledgements ix
data on Bali which I have reported (I hope correctly) on pages
74-5, in the course of one of the most memorable anthropologi-
cal conversations I have been privileged to enjoy. Needless to
add, any deficiencies in my account of Bali are not attributable to
him. Nancy Munn read the complete final draft, and though she
was too much under pressure with her own forthcoming review
of the 'Anthropology of Time' literature to make detailed com-
ments, I drew enormous reassurance from her generally favour-
able reaction. Sections of this work have also been presented
at seminars at the L.S.E., the University of Oxford, and New
York University, where audiences made a number of useful
comments.
I am grateful to the London School of Economics and my
department for granting me a sabbatical year during which I was
able to revise and substantially rewrite this book.
Finally I must thank Simeran Gell, and Rohan for putting up
with me while I got on with my solitary labours. I hope it has all
been worthwhile.