Techniques involve both gestures and tools, sequentially organized by means of a ‘syntax’ that imparts both fixity and flexibility to the series of operations involved. This operating syntax is suggested by the memory and comes into being as a product of the brain and the physical environment. If pursue the parallel with language, we find a similar process taking place.”
(Leroi-Gourhan 1993, 114)
Welcome to the Reading Group 'Cross-linking Leroi-Gourhan’s legacy
Shaping, using, recycling, or discarding objects frame our world by simultaneously entangling material, social and symbolic dimensions. André Leroi-Gourhan (1911-1986), a french paleontologist, developed methods of excavation and recording to reconstruct the underlying temporal sequences and spatial organization into technological processes. His approach shifted the focus from the study of objects and their classification (typology) toward the physical actions they embody as “cultural techniques”. He famously showed how smaller gestures are wove together to form complex technologies as the product of chaînes opératoires. This understanding of gesture not only as a social product, but also as a foundational element of society laid the ground to an enduring legacy on cultural anthropology of technology.
Leroi-Gourhan’s approach is a source of reflection, and some of his concepts are widely used tools toward the study of material culture. During the SoSe 2022, our reading group will focus on Leroi-Gourhan writings and legacy,
We aim at meeting every two weeks for five meetings. Meetings will take place Thursday from 14:00-16:00, Seminarraum, Institute für Wissensgeschichte des Altertums (Arnimallee 10)
PAPERS DOWNLOAD: CLICK THIS LINK
Tentative schedule and readings (TBC)
May 5: Introduction & Precursors: Leroi-Gourhan’s Infrastructure?
Mauss 1973 [1936]: “Techniques of the body”
Schüttpelz 2010: “Kulturtechniken”
May 19: Leroi-Gourhan’s Portrait & Theory:
Leroi Gourhan 1993: Gesture and Speech p. 219-242
Audouze 2012: “Leroi-Gourhan, a Philosopher of Technique”
June 2: Leroi-Gourhan’s Methods:
Leroi-Gourhan 1993: “Gesture and Speech” p. 242-269
Bar‐Yosef 2009: “The Chaîne Opératoire Approach”
June 16: Reception:
Ingold 1999: An appreciation of Leroi-Gourhan
(alternative: Ingold 2021: Posthuman Prehistory)
June 30: Reception in “Media Studies”:
Hildebrandt 2011: Bild, Geste und Hand
Tresch 2019: Leroi-Gourhan’s Hall of Gesture
References
Audouze, F. (2002). Leroi-Gourhan, a Philosopher of Technique and Evolution. Journal of Archaeological Research, 10(4), 277–306. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41053189
Hildebrandt, T (2011): Bild, Geste und Hand. Leroi-Gourhans paläontologische Bildtheorie. In: IMAGE. Zeitschrift für interdisziplinäre Bildwissenschaft. Heft 14, Jg. 7, Nr. 2, S. 76–88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25969/mediarep/16576.
Ingold, T. (1999). `Tools for the hand, language for the face’: An appreciation of Leroi-Gourhan’s gesture and speech. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 30 (4):411-453.
Ingold, T. (2021). Posthuman Prehistory, Nature and Culture, 16(1), 83-103 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3167/nc.2020.160106
Leroi-Gourhan, A. (1993 [1964]) Gesture and Speech, trans. A. Bostock Berger, intro. R. White (Cambridge, MA, and London: MIT Press).
Mauss M. (1973 [1936]) ‘Techniques of the body’, translated by Ben Brewster, Economy and Society 2: 70–88.
Bar‐Yosef O. and P. Van Peer (2009): The Chaîne Opératoire Approach in Middle Paleolithic Archaeology Current Anthropology 2009 50:1, 103-131
Schüttpelz E., Körpertechniken, Zeitschrift für Medien- und Kulturforschung 1/2010: “Kulturtechnik” DOI: https://doi.org/10.28937/1000106303
Tresch J. (2019): Leroi-Gourhan’s Hall of Gestures. In Douglas Kahn, ed. Energies in the Arts. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 193-238.
Meeting
There was a time, and not so very long ago, when one discussed science in literary salons. […] Whereas D’Alembert dissolved in an ocean of sensitive molecules, Stephen Hawking announces in A Brief History of Time (1988) without any levity the imminent triumph of human reason: the reduction of the universe to a pure mathematical necessity. No longer do our speculations explore those limit points where theories lose the gravitas of their familiar power. Instead, they judge the world in the name of the power of theory.
Isabelle Stengers (Relearning to Laugh, 2000, 41)
Welcome to the Reading Group 'bookworms'
We meet regularly throughout the year to discuss topics of interest to a broad range of disciplines. We hope to be inspired by the exchange of ideas and experiences.
We usually discuss one article or book chapter each session.
Reading List
We welcome suggestions for readings and encourage you to edit this page
Meeting
Time: TBA
Place: Institut für Wissensgeschichte des Altertums, Arnimallee 10
Policy
Our reading group is visible and accessible to invited members only.
Current participants are: Cale Johnson, Nehemie Strupler
Contact
Néhémie Strupler
Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereichs Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften
Institut für Wissensgeschichte des Altertums
Arnimallee 10
14195 Berlin (Germany)
nehemie.strupler@fu-berlin.de
