Date: July 4, 2008 (Fri.) 13:30-15:30PM
Venue: Room No. 101, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University
http://www.zinbun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kotu.html
Presentation:
Yoko Hayami (Professor, CSEAS)
Title: Imagining Ways of Relatedness of Life: Cultures of Reproduction from Three Karen Cases
The presenter first criticized the fact that in traditional anthropology kinship or “reproduction” were considered strictly in the domestic realm, and then argued that in light of recent advances in reproductive technology, it is necessary to rethink the concept of “relations.” Using the examples of the Karen people in 3 locations, she proposed a new dynamic conceptualization of kinship, which includes the body in a biological sense, and that would provide a common ground for understanding and discussing kinship with scientists in other social and natural sciences.
In the question and answer session, discussant Yasuko Fujikura of the New School for Social Research, explained that in current American anthropology, kinship is treated/educated as one form of Bio-politics and suggested that it would be worth comparing the concept of kinship proposed by Dr. Hayami with the concept of Bio-sociality proposed by Rabinow. This comment elicited responses from the general audience regarding the universal, individual, social, and biological aspects of kinship. In addition, it was suggested that Dr. Hayami investigate how social and policy changes influence her concept of kinship. Furthermore, the comment was forwarded that if she was deconstructing the current conceptualization of kinship, that she should not be limited by the terminology related to that conceptualization.
In each of the Karen case studies, it was shown through seemingly trivial practices how kin members exhibited uniqueness and differentiation, and how this was passed down from generation to generation. On the other hand, this passing down of culture from generation to generation is a form of biological reproduction and can be considered a universal truth for all humans and as such touches on the issue of global and local which is the concern of GCOE. Thus, it can be grasped at a point of entry into the overall issues of the GCOE. Furthermore, the question of what to pass down and what to get rid of encompasses the issue of “value,” which is the topic of Initiative 4. In examining how societies determine which practices and knowledge are important for a good life and what is passed down to the next generation, kinships research plays a key role in understanding how value can be assigned to human survival. The question was raised by natural scientists, that assuming it is possible for humanity as a whole to make a collective decision as hypothesized by the kinship researchers, what contribution would anthropologists make? The response from the anthropologist’s side was that it necessary to start by not thinking of nature and society as separate entities that stand in opposition to one another and by clarifying the interrelatedness of the two. This discussion hinted at the potential of reaching a universal human knowledge and understanding.
(Shuhei Kimura, Makoto Kasezawa)