Nicholas Thomas Bücher

Cook's great voyages marked the end of an era in world history. As he sailed into Hawaii in January 1778 he made contact with the last of the human civilizations to grow up independently of the rest of the world. But equally for the Polynesians and Melanesians of the Pacific, Cook's arrival in their midst merely marked a further (if disastrous) twist in diverse histories already many centuries old. In this immensely enjoyable and absorbing book Cook's journeys are reimagined, attempting toleave behind (or master) our later preoccupations to let us see what Cook and his associates experienced and what the societies he encountered experienced - from the Beothuks of Newfoundland to the Tongans of the Friendly Islands.

The extraordinary sixty-thousand-year history of how the Pacific islands were settled.

A new edition of this concise but authoritative survey of the diverse, dazzling and compelling art of Oceania in all its forms, past and present.

The author takes up issues central to modern anthropology. In so doing he raises doubts about any simple "us / them" dichotomy between Westerners and Pacific Islanders, challenging the preoccupation of anthropology with cultural differences by stressing the shared history of colonial entanglement.

Explores the lived experience of empire in the Pacific, the last region to be contacted and colonized by Europeans following the great voyages of Captain Cook. This title reveals that there was gain as well as loss, survival as well as suffering, and invention as well as exploitation.

Over the last twenty years museums have proliferated, attracting new audiences and assuming new prominence in public life. The Return of Curiosity offers a fresh perspective on museums and what they may now be good for.

An illuminating and authoritative survey of body art by a world expert on the subject This informed and accessible book explores the wide-ranging history of body art, from its expression of tribal affinities and cultural identity to its role in theatricality, criminality, and beautifying the body, as well as its influence on contemporary artists. Seven thematic chapters explore the extraordinary diversity of body arts practiced worldwide, both past and present. These range from the role of body art in traditional societies around the world, from Nigeria to Amazonia, Samoa, and New Guinea and from the past through the twentieth century. The theatricality of body is considered in a range of stages including the masquerades in West Africa, the Japanese Noh theater, the drag balls of Harlem, and the Sydney Mardi Gras parade. Later chapters explore themes of beauty and the association of tattoos with the socially marginal, before moving to the revival in the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries of body art as a means of expressing individual and cultural identity as demonstrated in the “modern primitive” movement, performance art, and celebrity tattoo culture. A wealth of illustrations reflects the many manifestations of body art, including tattooing, piercing, scarification, masquerade, hairstyles, performance art, and more.186 illustrations, 143 in color

"When Tatau was first published in 2010, Mark Adams' renowned images documenting a great Polynesian art tradition were a revelation. It told the story of the late Suluʻape Paulo II, the pre-eminent figure of modern Samoan tattooing. A brilliantly innovative and often controversial man, he saw tatau as an art of international importance. Tatau documented his practice, and that of other tufuga ta tatau (tattoo artists), in the contexts of Polynesian tattooing, Samoan migrant communities and New Zealand art. Long out-of-print, this revised and extended new edition, with its handsome large format and texts by distinguished scholars, makes a cultural treasure available once more"--

The book explores the complexities of ethnographic museums, which are increasingly redefined as collections of world cultures. It highlights the ongoing challenges faced by curators who strive for dialogue and collaboration with the source communities of their artifacts. Many items in these collections were acquired during the colonial era, leading to debates about their provenance and the ethics of ownership. The narrative underscores the tension between the museums' intentions and the historical context of their collections, raising critical questions about cultural representation and restitution.

Focusing on essential management skills, this guide equips managers, supervisors, and team leaders with effective strategies to enhance their leadership abilities. It offers practical tools and techniques designed to foster modern leadership qualities, ensuring readers can not only kickstart their journey but also maintain their competitive edge in their roles.