The Anguish of Snails: Native American Folklore in the West (Folklife of the West, Vol. 2) (Folklife of the West, V. 2)
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Book Overview
After a career working and living with American Indians and studying their traditions, Barre Toelken has written this sweeping study of Native American folklore in the West. Within a framework of performance theory, cultural worldview, and collaborative research, he examines Native American visual arts, dance, oral tradition (story and song), humor, and patterns of thinking and discovery to demonstrate what can be gleaned from Indian traditions by Natives and non-Natives alike. In the process he considers popular distortions of Indian beliefs, demystifies many traditions by showing how they can be comprehended within their cultural contexts, considers why some aspects of Native American life are not meant to be understood by or shared with outsiders, and emphasizes how much can be learned through sensitivity to and awareness of cultural values. Winner of the 2004 Chicago Folklore Prize, The Anguish of Snails is an essential work for the collection of any serious reader in folklore or Native American studies.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0874215560
ISBN13:9780874215564
Release Date:June 2003
Publisher:Utah State University Press
Length:216 Pages
Weight:0.80 lbs.
Dimensions:0.5" x 6.4" x 9.0"
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Great stories from a great story teller
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is a very well written book on the folklore, with comments from contemporary Native Americans. It was great to read before a trip to some archaeological sites in the southwest, it seemed to make the rock art come alive to me. Of course, no one today knows for sure the meaning of the rock art, nor did this author suggest any such thing, but reading it did increase my appreciation of both the past and current cultures of the west.
Beautifully Written Inquiry into American Indian Culture
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Toelken's book is an excellent study of the culture of America's first peoples. It is an eloquent discussion of how to learn about American Indian history and culture by looking at the everyday activities, traditional arts, folklife, and rituals that are shared with the public. Toelken's work challenges stereotypical and inaccurrate perceptions about Indians; more importantly, he shows ways to understand what other people have to offer when they perform their cultural traditions. It is also beautifully illustrated with gorgeous photographs, many of them in color. The book is written for both academic and non-academic audiences as an introduction into contemporary American Indian culture. I highly recommend this fine book written by an excellent folklorist.
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