Social Anthropology Seminar - Prof Veronica Strang (University of Durham)
| Dates: | 25 April 2016 |
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| Times: | 16:00 - 18:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | School of Social Sciences |
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| Speaker: | Prof Veronica Strang |
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Title: Comparative Values: water serpent beings and human-non-human relations
Abstract
Beliefs in water serpent beings were, at one time, ubiquitous in human societies,
and they remain remarkably persistent, even in cultural contexts where ‘nature religions’
and their imaginaries have been replaced by humanised deities. This paper considers how the
comparative analysis of ideas about water serpent beings provides insights into the changing
values composing human societies’ relations with ‘nature’ and a related rise or fall in the
fortunes of the non-human. Drawing on ethnographic, archaeological and historical case studies,
it explores some of the cultural specificities of water serpent beings, as well as the recurrent
cross-cultural commonalities that are discernible in their form and meaning in different spatio-temporal contexts.
In doing so it provides some insights into the cognitive use of material elements in formulating concepts of flow,
generative capacity and, in particular, visions of non-human agency.
2.016/2.017, Second Floor Boardroom, Arthur Lewis Building
(Tea and Coffee will be available outside the boardroom at 4pm)
All welcome.
Speaker
Prof Veronica Strang
Organisation: Univeristy of Durham
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
2nd floor Boardroom 2.016 / 017
Arthur Lewis Building
Manchester
