by E. E. Evans-Pritchard I was inspired by Think Like an Anthropologist so I decided to read some real stuff. E-P is a major classic in the field--I remember him mentioned multiple times as a college student in only a minor in anthropology. The book is technical but accessible. It's actually maybe ironic. Think Like … Continue reading Book: Essays in Social Anthropology
Film: Valgus Koordis
Aitäh veel kord, Evelina, et kutsusid mind. Sa oled andekas turustaja (anna teada, kas ma kasutan seda sõna valesti--marketer?) Sa ikka tead, mis kellele meeldib. Mulle väga meeldib vene-ameerika kirjanik Masha Gessen, kes kirjeldab, kuidas ta asend USA kultuuri väljas aitab tal aru saada USAst. Mulle meeldib ta teistel põhjustel, aga ikkagi see tunne on … Continue reading Film: Valgus Koordis
Raamat: Kevade I
Oskar Luts, Kevade I, 1913. Selle teen ma ära nüüd ja mitte kogu raamatu lõpus. Ausalt seda ei teadnudki, et Kevadel on 2 osa, aga ikkagi on. Kui ma seda ei tee, unustan ma kõige selle ära, kui ma raamatu lõpuks ära lõpetan. Mis seal ikka. Ma ei tea, kas oli hea idee alustada eesti … Continue reading Raamat: Kevade I
Book: Doesn’t Seem Like Sci-Fi to Me
Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven, 2014. According to the Wikipedia page, there are critics who called Station Eleven science fiction. St. John Mandel denies this, apparently. She's right. In fact I was kind of hoping it would be more like scifi. I was disappointed to find that it's pretty much realism through and through. … Continue reading Book: Doesn’t Seem Like Sci-Fi to Me
Mõte: Eesti Veri
Eile olin kirjanduse üritusel ja tahtsin üles kirjutada seda. Joosep Vesselov, kes on Tartu luuletaja, luges luuletuse välja, mis mind lõi. Luuletusest nii hästi aru ei saanud, ikkagi sain sellest aru: arv. Palju kordi kirjeldas eesti rahvast numbriga: miljon ja midagi ja seejärel miljon. Miljon. Kas ta ju ei tea, et eesti rahvastik on 1,32 … Continue reading Mõte: Eesti Veri
Thought: Quick Defense of Astrology
To attack the physical or scientific underpinnings of astrology may well be warranted but it misses the point. Even those who believe in astrology, in a metaphysical, religious, or spiritual sense, do not engage in it as a result of metaphysical thinking. It is an identity play. It is a way for people to explore … Continue reading Thought: Quick Defense of Astrology
Book: Historical Fiction but Degas This Time
Cathy Marie Buchanan, The Painted Girls, 2013. This is more for submissions to agents. The Painted Girls takes place in Belle Epoque Paris and is about a family of sisters. There is a mother and 3 girls, but the older daughters Marie and Antoinette (pretty sure the names are deliberate) are the most important. There … Continue reading Book: Historical Fiction but Degas This Time
Book: Kind of a Throwback
Matthew Engelke, Think Like an Anthropologist, 2017. I minored in anthropology in college, so this was a nice return. I haven't read enough anthropology recently and would like to do more. Think Like an Anthropologist is a pretty typical popular-science book: written by an academic professional but for a general audience. It goes through a … Continue reading Book: Kind of a Throwback
Thought: Decolonization and the Alt-Right
Much of today's far-right political activity is rooted in ongoing decolonization. For poorer, less educated people especially, the principal source of self-validation has often been the association with, within society, white equality, and in an international context, the dominance of that society over other societies. It helps to think in terms of "civilizations," which is … Continue reading Thought: Decolonization and the Alt-Right
Book: Historical Fiction and Contemporary Values
Rachel Kadish, The Weight of Ink. 2017. This one grew on me. At the beginning I'll admit I had little sympathy with Aaron Levy, the PhD student who is sort of our protagonist. I liked Helen Watt I suppose but I wasn't particularly arrested by the story. That said, as things progressed into the real … Continue reading Book: Historical Fiction and Contemporary Values
