Potlatch

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Potlatch
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Festive event within regional exchange system
Foraging SocietiesSedentaryChiefsAccess to
Natural Resources
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Is Profit Motive a Universal?
How do we explain potlatch?Previous view of
anthropologistsWasteful Irrational
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Cultural Ecology
Attempts tom interpret cultural practices in
terms of their long-term role in helping humans
adapt to their environments.Cultural adaptive
mechanismGreat comparative opportunity
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Potlach Explained
Cultural adaptation to alternating periods of
local abundance and shortageOverall environment
favorable but resources fluctuate year to year
and place to placeCompetitive feasting not a
display wastefulness but a means of
survivalEnhances individual community
relations
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Does not exist apart from the rest of the World
European contact with the KwakiutlPotlatch for
entire populationDestroying new goods being
introduced
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Impact of Potlatch
Prevented the development of socioeconomic
stratificationWealth relinquished or destroyed
was converted into non-material a
itemPRESTIGEDifferent from capitalist
economy