

Movie spotlight
Hommage à Marcel Mauss. Germaine Dieterlen
Germaine Dierterlen talks about Dogon mythology at a conference on the Bandiagara cliffs. The Songo canopy is a sacred site in Bandiagara. Its walls are covered with paintings depicting the different phases of creation. A little further on, in a cave near the village of Bongo, symposium participants are discussing the Tellem, the people who lived in the houses built into the cliffs before the arrival of the Dogon. The archaeological remains and migratory movements of these two peoples are discussed.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary pays tribute to the influential French sociologist and anthropologist Marcel Mauss. It explores his significant contributions to the study of social phenomena, particularly his work on gift exchange, magic, and the concept of the 'total social fact'. The film likely features interviews or archival footage related to Mauss's life and intellectual legacy.
Critical Reception
As a specialized documentary on an anthropological figure, specific mainstream critical reception data is scarce. However, within academic and anthropological circles, Germaine Dieterlen's work is respected for its contribution to understanding Marcel Mauss's foundational theories.
What Reviewers Say
A valuable academic tribute to a key figure in social sciences.
Provides insights into Marcel Mauss's enduring theoretical impact.
Google audience: Information not available for this specialized documentary.
Fun Fact
Germaine Dieterlen was herself a notable anthropologist who worked extensively with the Dogon people of Mali, a subject also explored by Marcel Griaule, who was a student of Mauss.
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