Tylor, ‘ Fetishes ’ and the Matter of Animism

Harvey, Graham (2017). Tylor, ‘ Fetishes ’ and the Matter of Animism. In: Tremlett, Paul-François; Sutherland, Liam and Harvey, Graham eds. Edward Tylor, Religion and Culture. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 29–46.

URL: https://bloomsbury.com/uk/edward-burnett-tylor-rel...

Abstract

Edward Tylor adopted the term ‘ fetishism ’ for what he considered to be a significant subset of animism. If animism is a ‘ doctrine of spirits in general ’, fetishism is ‘ the doctrine of spirits embodied in, or attached to, or conveying influence through, certain material objects ’ (Tylor 1871, 2: 132). I have previously contrasted the animism theorized by Tylor with that of Irving Hallowell in the mid-twentieth century (e.g. Harvey 2005a discussing Hallowell 1960). For Tylor, animism ( ‘ belief in spirits ’ ) is synonymous with religion. For Hallowell, animism is a relational ontology and epistemology which generates the rituals and narratives of non- supernaturalistic religion within wider cultural life. Material things play vital roles in both anthropologists ’ work and invite further attention. Whether fetishism is a useful word for some human relationships with material things, is a question to which this chapter returns towards the end.

Viewing alternatives

Look up in Google Scholar
No digital document available to download for this item

Item Actions

Export

About

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)