Debating Oaxaca Archaeology (Anthropological Papers (Univ of Michigan, Museum of Anthropology)) [Paperback]

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Michigan Museum (February 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091570322X
• ISBN-13: 978-0915703227
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,753,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Professors are human, after all, October 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Debating Oaxaca Archaeology (Anthropological Papers (Univ of Michigan, Museum of Anthropology)) (Paperback)

This book is like nothing you have ever read. Imagine this: on the outside, a somewhat technical book about a fairly specialized subject matter, containing a number of essays in which prominent academics put forth ideas, discuss theories, debate the validity of different opinions; on the inside, juicy tabloid-like writing which is sometimes funny. The humor is lost in this paradox, especially for those of us that bought the book. That the University of Michigan press would even publish this book makes one wonder about their financial situation, whether they are the first of their kind to make the jump from serious academics to trashy best-sellers. Many of us believe in academics, we have faith in it. But what if that desire some of us might have, that this kind of book is merely an isolated incident, is not the case? If we have given up on politics as a forum for serious thinking and exchange of ideas, is it not the duty of the academic to step in and fill this intellectual gap which is slowly eating away at contemporary society? The second and third chapters in this collection are especially brilliant examples of the stench which emanates from the rotting heap of trash that academics is becoming. Ad hominem attacks as ways of debunking an idea is the general approach which young children take. Finding them in this type of book is downright bewildering. Having visited the region of Mexico which this book deals with, the lack of care, the lack of respect, the lack of interest which the authors show for the place itself - analogous to a politician that is concerned solely with re-election, rather than the interests of his/her constituency - is so salient that the initial bewilderment is replaced by questioning anger. Unfortunately, I must recommend this book (nonetheless, if I were allowed to, I would give it zero stars). I would not be surprised if the editors have done their best to pull it out of circulation, having realized that what they once thought was wit is actually a powerful expression of self-discrediting. But for anyone interested in studying the creation of knowledge from a social perspective - someone that is perhaps wondering whether academics ever blow their cover and revert to natural human reactions which, although not usually considered "ideas," are interesting studies in character - for that dilligent student of thought and its expressions, this is a very interesting book.