Week 5: Inalienable Possessions and the Density of Objects

What does Annette Weiner define as "inalienable possessions"? What makes different kinds of objects of value more or less "inalienable" or "dense"? How is the value of such objects tied to different social rank, for women and/or men?

Week 4: In and Out of Africa: Reflections

In the ethnographic film In and Out of Africa,  there are multiple views on the value of the African works of art. In this post, discuss how different actors think these objects should be valued. How does the film discuss issues around value, art, and culture?

FORUM Prompt

After reading Mauss's book and Zelizer's and Brownell and Bessnier's articles, what are your thoughts on what counts as a good or bad gift? Further, are gifts ever free? If so or if not, elaborate on the social dynamics of gift exchanges using contemporary examples.