Colonial-era anthropological studies often focused on non-Western societies and were heavily influenced by the colonial context in which they were produced. Many of these studies viewed indigenous people through the lens of European superiority, reinforcing colonial ideologies. Here are some examples of prominent anthropological works from that era:
- “The Golden Bough” by Sir James George Frazer (1890)
Frazer’s work is a comparative study of mythology and religion, analyzing the similarities between different societies’ rituals and beliefs. Though influential in the development of anthropology, it has been criticized for its Eurocentric approach and tendency to oversimplify indigenous cultures. - “The Anthropology of the Negro” by William Fielding Ogburn (1924)
Ogburn’s work exemplifies the racial biases of the time, attempting to apply scientific racism to justify the superiority of white Europeans over African populations. His work reinforced harmful stereotypes and shaped early anthropological thought regarding race. - “Argonauts of the Western Pacific” by Bronisław Malinowski (1922)
While Malinowski’s ethnographic work on the Trobriand Islanders is often seen as foundational in the field of anthropology, he conducted his studies during a time when colonial powers controlled the region. His “participant observation” method, though groundbreaking, was still embedded in a colonial framework. - “The Nuer” by E.E. Evans-Pritchard (1940)
This classic work on the Nuer people of Sudan is another example of colonial-era anthropology. While it is a detailed and influential ethnography, Evans-Pritchard’s position as a British colonial officer in Sudan shaped his approach and the way he framed the Nuer society. - “The Mind of Primitive Man” by Franz Boas (1911)
Although Boas is often regarded as the “father” of American anthropology and a critic of scientific racism, his work was still shaped by colonial ideologies. His studies of indigenous groups were instrumental in challenging racist theories of human evolution, but they still reflected the colonial context of the time. - “Race and History” by Claude Lévi-Strauss (1952)
Lévi-Strauss’s structuralist approach to understanding myths and kinship structures continued the colonial tradition of studying non-Western societies. While his work was more progressive in terms of its focus on cultural relativism, it was still very much part of the larger project of colonial anthropology. - “The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea” by Bronisław Malinowski (1929)
This work is considered a key ethnographic text but was written in the context of a European colonial understanding of indigenous cultures. Malinowski’s anthropological methods were influential but critiqued for the way colonial narratives influenced his findings.
These studies and others from the colonial era often reinforced colonial attitudes, portraying indigenous societies as “primitive” or “uncivilized,” and their knowledge was often framed within the broader context of Western superiority. Since then, the discipline of anthropology has evolved significantly, with scholars recognizing the colonial legacies in many of these works.