Book DescriptionShould a temple be seen as a work of art, its carvers as artists, its worshipers as art critics and patrons? What is a temple (and its art) to the people who make and use it? Noted anthropologist Hildred Geertz attempts to answer these and other questions in this unique look at transformations in material culture and social relations озэйг over time in a village temple in Bali Throughout Geertz offers insightful glimpses into what the statues, structures, and designs of Pura Desa Batuan conveyto those who worship there, deepening our understanding of how a village community evaluates workmanship and imagery Following an introduction to the temple and villagers of Batuan, Geertz explores the problematics of the Western concept of "art" as a guiding framework in research She goes on to outline the many different kinds of work--ideational as well as physical--undertaken in connection with the temple and the social institutions that enable, constrain, and motivate their creation Finally,the "art-works" themselves are presented, set within the intricate sociocultural contexts of their making Using the history of Batuan as the main framework for discussing each piece, Geertz looks at the carvings from the perspective of their makers, each generation occupying a different social situation She confronts concepts such as "aesthetics," "representation," "sacredness," and "universality" and the dilemmas they create in field research and ethnographic writing Recent temple carvings from the tumultuous and complex period that followed the expulsion of the Dutch and the increasing globalization and commercialization of Balinese society demonstrate yet again that any anthropology of art must also be historical Illustrated with over 150 photographs, drawings, and maps, The Life of a Balinese Temple is an unparalleled record of a complex communal achievement Based on continued on-site study over a twenty-year period, it is a thoroughly original contribution to Bali studies and the anthropology of art that will also find an appreciative audience among students of religion, art historians, and those interested in material culture.  В книге наряду2004 г 291 стр ISBN 0824825330.