2012, No. 1 (2), Anthropology / history of the Contemporary World

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Paweł Łuczeczko
Anthropology of the Contemporary in Poland. Origin, Development, Prospects

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Keywords: anthropology at home, anthropology of modern culture, history of Polish anthropology.

Abstract:
The paper presents the history of the birth and development of modern culture anthropology (“anthropology at home”) in Poland. The anthropology of modern culture is shown as an anthropological subdiscipline which, using anthropological perspective, methods and theories, analyzes the phenomenon of contemporary Western culture. Its origins can be found in the 20s and 30s, however, the spectacular development took place later - in the 80s and especially the 90s. At that time it was, on the one hand, a scientific discipline with serious research ambitions, on the other hand it was a kind of quasi-science with literary and critical (postmodern) potential. This branch of anthropology began studies on the contemporary topics in the Polish ethnological sciences. The article points to the key authors, books and events in the history of the subdiscipline and considers the reasons for its dynamic development in Poland in the 90s. It also presents a variety of ways of understanding and practising anthropology at home. Last but not least, the article reflects on the current perspectives and ambitions of this anthropological subdiscipline and also contemplates the importance of its impact on the present and the future shape of the entire anthropology.

About Author:
PAWEŁ ŁUCZECZKO - sociologist, assistant professor at the Institute of Philosophy of Sociology and Journalism at the University of Gdańsk.