Reflecting on America

<p>Anthropologists travel back in time and across the globe to understand human culture—but, surprise, there is culture right here in the United States. This second edition of the best-selling textbook and anthology, <em>Reflecting on America</em>, again focuses on how we can recognize the common cultural thread running through diverse American phenomena—from heroin addiction and Big Business’s efforts to shape the identities of children, to Civil War reenactments and the popularity of burlesque in the Midwest. In addition, this second edition includes chapters written especially for this volume on striptease, Burning Man, The Big Bang Theory TV show, and Groundhog Phil. Written throughout with verve and quirky humor, and offering “Questions for discussion” after every article, this book is perfect for undergraduate classes in anthropology and American studies. Drawing together twenty-two scholars with expertise in anthropological ideas about culture, <em>Reflecting on America</em> examines what it means to be American.</p> 1. Introduction: Upon Further Reflection 7 Clare L. Boulanger 2. America—The View from across the (Reflecting) Pond 9 Clare L. Boulanger Ecology/Economy 3. Mickey, Nicky, and Barbie: Kinderculture in America 17 Richard H. Robbins 4. Consuming Ourselves to Death 29 Richard Wilk 5. The Button: Not a Simple Notion 41 Paul Grebinger 6. Safety and Health in the “Safer and Healthier” Agriculture 51 Brandi Janssen Family Life and Leisure 7. Chauffeuring and Commuting: A Story of Work, Family, Class, and Community 65 Lara Descartes, Conrad P. Kottak, and Autumn Kelly 8. Military Families: The Long Journey Home 81 Sarah Hautzinger and Jean Scandlyn 9. Every Time We Type Goodbye: Heartbreak American-Style 97 Ilana Gershon 10. Striptease, Leisure, and Labor in the Midwestern United States 105 Beth Hartman 1. Introduction: Upon Further Reflection 7 Clare L. Boulanger 2. America—The View from across the (Reflecting) Pond 9 Clare L. Boulanger Ecology/Economy 3. Mickey, Nicky, and Barbie: Kinderculture in America 17 Richard H. Robbins 4. Consuming Ourselves to Death 29 Richard Wilk 5. The Button: Not a Simple Notion 41 Paul Grebinger 6. Safety and Health in the “Safer and Healthier” Agriculture 51 Brandi Janssen Family Life and Leisure 7. Chauffeuring and Commuting: A Story of Work, Family, Class, and Community 65 Lara Descartes, Conrad P. Kottak, and Autumn Kelly 8. Military Families: The Long Journey Home 81 Sarah Hautzinger and Jean Scandlyn 9. Every Time We Type Goodbye: Heartbreak American-Style 97 Ilana Gershon 10. Striptease, Leisure, and Labor in the Midwestern United States 105 Beth Hartman Class and Power 11. Talk of “Broken Borders” and Stone Walls: Anti-immigrant Discourse and Legislation from California to South Carolina 121 Ann Kingsolver 12. Gender, Race, and Class in America: Home in New Haven 135 Micaela di Leonardo 13. Welcome to an East Harlem Shooting Gallery 151 Philippe Bourgois 14. A Pilgrimage to the Past: Civil War Reenactors at Gettysburg 167 Matthew H. Amster 15. Memories of Burning Man 181 S. Megan Heller 16. When Worlds Collude: Groundhog Phil and the Super Bowl Meet on Candlemas 193 Robert Myers 17. Metakinesis: How God Becomes Intimate in Contemporary American Christianity 205 Tanya M. Luhrmann Ideology 18. Little Boys Writ Big: Gender, Economy, and The Big Bang Theory 225 Clare L. Boulanger 19. Warmaking as the American Way of Life 237 Catherine Lutz 20. American Cultural Denial: The CATs’ Compass 253 E. L. Cerroni-Long 21. Living Up to Our Words 265 Paul Durrenberger 11. Talk of “Broken Borders” and Stone Walls: Anti-immigrant Discourse and Legislation from California to South Carolina Ann Kingsolver 12. Gender, Race, and Class in America: Home in New Haven Micaela di Leonardo 13. Welcome to an East Harlem Shooting Gallery Philippe Bourgois 14. A Pilgrimage to the Past: Civil War Reenactors at Gettysburg Matthew H. Amster 15. Memories of Burning Man S. Megan Heller 16. When Worlds Collude: Groundhog Phil and the Super Bowl Meet on Candlemas Robert Myers 17. Metakinesis: How God Becomes Intimate in Contemporary American Christianity Tanya M. Luhrmann Ideology 18. Little Boys Writ Big: Gender, Economy, and