James George Frazer
The British anthropologist to sir James George Frazer (January 1st 1854 - May 7th 1941) is the first to have drawn up a planetary inventory of the Mythe S and Rite S. 12 volumes of sound Rameau of gold , published between 1911 and 1915, describe thousands of made social and religious, either raised by the author on the ground or in its readings, or reported by its cosmopolitan correspondents (diplomatic, administrators colonial, exploring, missionaries). While trying to interpret this mass of behaviors, Frazer founded - almost unconsciously - the Religious anthropology and the Mythologie compared.
After him, many other researchers will reflect on the reported practices, such Freud or Lévi-Strauss. They will criticize and enrich comprehension that of had Frazer, too marked by the prejudice of a superiority of Western civilization on those of the “savages” (evolutionism). Wittgenstein will in particular reproach him for not having understood that the assumption of evolution is not an historical truth, but a methodological tool allowing to present the relationship between the various companies under one day lighting. However, much of the intuitions of Frazer will remain valid, as the bond which links Tabou and totem according to which one does not have the right to kill nor to eat the animal or the plant appearing the protective ancestor. In any case, the repertory which it established is always used as layer with those which analyze these “strange” Croyance S, rites and codes of which so many traces persist in our secularized cultures.
Frazer especially scanned the taboos which concern the crowned characters: kings and priests. It is waited them until they harmonize natural and company. So they are compelled with strict rules, intended to protect them so that they remain able to ensure the prosperity of the group. Representatives and sources of Community balance, their life - their “heart” - must be warning statement. It will be thus prohibited to them to come into contact with the ground, blood, a corpse, iron or the nodes. In return, the common run of people will be able to carry neither hand neither shade on them, neither to look at them, nor even to name them. What them night impure and is rejected, taboo; themselves are holy and untouchable, taboos. Such is well the double direction of this word which comes us from Polynesia: “Crowned and Prohibited”.
Work
- Ier volume: the King magician in the primitive company , ED. Frenchwoman, Paris, Laffont, 1981.
- IIe volume: God who dies , ED. Frenchwoman, Paris, Laffont, 1983.
- IIIe volume: Spirit of corns and wood , ED. Frenchwoman, Paris, Laffont, 1983.
- IVe volume: Balder Splendid the , ED. Frenchwoman, Paris, Laffont, 1984.
- Myths on the origin of fire
June 24th 1920 -->
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