On discourse and materiality : personhood in the Neolithic of the Isle of Man
This research project takes a fresh look at the Neolithic archaeology of the Isle of Man, using that material to evaluate a number of themes in contemporary archaeology. The theme of personhood in prehistory is most central to the study. This project discusses the prevalent interpretative schemes which archaeologists use to understand prehistoric people, prehistoric bodies, and prehistoric social relationships. As such it joins with a number of current themes in archaeological interpretation, most notably; the role ofphenomenology in inferring past experience; the use of ethnographic analogy in understanding past and present ideas and experiences of the person and body; the impact of modernity in forming current ideas of the person (particularly the impact on archaeological thought); and the relationship between the material world, social activity and discourse, both in modernity and in prehistory. Two main types of theory are employed in this project. Both are geared towards understanding social relationships and the way that personhood is generated through activity. The first theory is a theory of performativity, adapted from the work of Judith Butler. The second is a relational approach to personhood, following
Fowler, Christopher John
CC Archaeology ; GN Anthropology
On discourse and materiality : personhood in the Neolithic of the Isle of Man. This research project takes a fresh look at the Neolithic archaeology of the Isle of Man, using that material to evaluate a number of themes in contemporary archaeology. The theme of personhood in prehistory is most central to the study. This project discusses the prevalent interpretative schemes which archaeologists use to understand prehistoric people, prehistoric bodies, and prehistoric social relationships. As such it joins with a number of current themes in archaeological interpretation, most notably; the role ofphenomenology in inferring past experience; the use of ethnographic analogy in understanding past and present ideas and experiences of the person and body; the impact of modernity in forming current ideas of the person (particularly the impact on archaeological thought); and the relationship between the material world, social activity and discourse, both in modernity and in prehistory. Two main types of theory are employed in this project. Both are geared towards understanding social relationships and the way that personhood is generated through activity. The first theory is a theory of performativity, adapted from the work of Judith Butler. The second is a relational approach to personhood, following
discourse materiality personhood neolithic isle_man project take fresh look neolithic archaeology isle_man use material evaluate number theme contemporary archaeology theme personhood prehistory central study project discuss prevalent interpretative scheme archaeologist use prehistoric people prehistoric body prehistoric social_relationship join number current themes archaeological_interpretation notably role infer past experience use_ethnographic analogy past_present idea experience person body impact modernity form current idea person particularly impact archaeological thought relationship material world social activity discourse modernity prehistory two_main type theory employ project gear_towards social_relationship way personhood generate activity first theory theory performativity adapt work butler second relational personhood follow