Lecture Nine

What is the definition of 'kinship' in social terms?

People who are part of your group.

What does 'affine' refer to in kinship?

People from the group you marry.

What are cross cousins?

Offspring of opposite gender siblings.

According to Levi-Strauss, what is the domain of the continuous?

Nature, where the rules are universal.

How does culture differ from nature according to the lecture?

Culture is the domain of the discontinuous, allowing for changes in perspective.

What is the significance of the prohibition of incest?

It exemplifies the distinction between nature and culture, as laws around incest change with cultural context.

What role did the dead play in social life as discussed in the lecture?

They borrow social structure and relate to the concept of compassionate cannibalism in the Wari.

How do kinship and affinity function together?

They fuse two groups together.

What is the impact of making certain relations incestuous according to the lecture?

It makes other relations more desirable.

In the Nambikwara society, what does the mode of address imply for children?

All children in either group are 'potential spouses' of children from the other group.

What does Levi-Strauss say about the universality of the incest taboo?

There is no biological explanation; the explanation is found in the realm of culture.

What is the significance of the gift according to Marcel Mauss?

The exchange of gifts is more than economic; it's a total social fact.

In terms of food distribution, what is mentioned in the lecture?

Food is never private property and has a system of distribution.