The Magical Body

This ethnographic study offers a compelling window into how the Lelet people of Papua New Guinea understand the human body, charting its profound role in shaping identity, social relations, and spiritual life. Richard Eves masterfully captures the fluidity and complexity of Lelet conceptions of corporeality, grounding abstract ideas in vivid, real-world examples that bring this Pacific Island culture to life. The book meticulously documents how the body serves as a primary site for constructing meaning, from everyday practices to elaborate rituals, providing a rich tapestry of cultural understanding.

What makes this work particularly powerful is its examination of how these deeply rooted bodily conceptions transform through encounters with colonialism, Christianity, and cash economies. Eves doesn't present Lelet culture as static but shows the dynamic negotiations that occur when traditional worldviews meet modern influences. Readers interested in anthropology, cultural studies, or indigenous perspectives will find a nuanced exploration of how identity is literally embodied, making this an essential contribution to understanding the intersection of culture, change, and the human form.