Islam Obscured: The Rhetoric of Anthropological Representation (Contemporary Anthropology of Religion)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 240 pages
• Published by: Palgrave Macmillan January 27, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1403967733
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1403967732
• Book Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 10.6 ounces

Product Review
"In Islam Obscured Daniel M. Varisco offers a brilliant and nuanced analysis of four influential anthropologists against the background of older, less field-based ethnographies of Muslim societies. His penetrating critiques of the influential works of Clifford Geertz, Ernest Gellner, Fatima Mernissi, and Akbar Ahmed lead to a probing discussion of the challenges facing the anthropology of Islam in the twenty-first century."--Richard C. Martin, Professor of Islamic Studies and History of Religions, Emory University


Product Description
Islam Obscured analyzes four seminal anthropology texts on Muslims that have been read widely outside the discipline. Two are by distinguished anthropologists: Islam Observed (Clifford Geertz, 1968) and Muslim Society (Ernest Gellner, 1981). Two other texts are by Muslim scholars: Beyond the Veil (Fatima Mernissi, 1975) and Discovering Islam (Akbar Ahmed, 1988). Varisco argues that each of these approaches Islam as an essentialized organic unity rather than letting "islams" found in the field speak to the diversity of practice. He sheds light on Islam as a cultural phenomenon, representation of the other, Muslim gender roles, politics of ethnographic authority, and Orientalist discourse. Varisco's analysis goes beyond the rhetoric over what Islam is, focusing instead on ethnographic research about what Muslims say they do and actually are observed doing.


Reader Reviews
After noting how rare and superficial many recognized works on anthropology of Muslim societies really are, Varisco provides cogent critiques of some of the best known examples from Geertz, Gellner, Mernissi, and Ahmed. For lack of more recent and in depth alternatives many works by these authors have been far over generalized as broad explanations of the Islamic world which has so many variations and local realities. Geertz's work on Morocco and Indonesia (Java) is a favorite read reflecting all these problems. Geertz also "reified" and labeled variations of Javanese Islam that simplify and create by labeling - this has been sometimes used by others rather crudely. The works themselves are often based on limited depth field work combined with reading and more superficial exposure to other cases. The reality for Muslims is often far from that perceived by anthropologists. Times change, methods can mislead particularly when trying to have broader "units" for analysis that family and tribe. (Dealing with Islam adds another hidden source of error from subconscious perceptions of a Christian background.) More basic description and research is clearly needed before better mid level analysis can be more reliable. Recent works on "discourse" of defining Islam by Muslims themselves in Indonesia; on Sufi specifics in Morocco; and on civic culture in Indonesia will help. Varisco's critique is more in depth and in the context of Anthropology as a discipline. Theory is as important as method for him. Further, the notes and few more recent and/or less known depth case studies introduce some hope for progress. The ideas and observations are important and it is written for Anthropologists but the lessons and language would best have been positioned to be more accessible to other intelligent readers. Comment | | (Report this)