|
|
New American Anthropologist
Rob Quinlan (C611417@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU)
Thu, 3 Nov 1994 14:35:31 CST
I had decided not to make up my mind about the new AA until the next issue,
but the Tedlock's had a little thing in the latest _Anthropology Newsletter_
that got my attention and made me think otherwise.
1. They say that they look forward to publishing a couple of papers on the
ethnography of plays. My question to you all is, "Who among us really cares
about the ethnography of plays?"
2. They say they want to do some things to improve the writing quality in the
AA. Why then did they publish articles like the one on the use of visuals in
legal and archeological argumentation? (Sorry I can't give you the exact
citation as I left my copy at school.) Just read the first paragraph. It's
aweful!
3. They say they don't want to publish research reports, because it skirts the
peer review process. IMHO this is a ruse. It's because science isn't important
to them and they'd like to keep it out of AA.
4. They say the negative comments they've received have been from angry male
anthropologists, and that many of these comments (to their female staff)
constitute [sexual] harassment. Didn't they get ANY constructive criticism?
5. There are other journals in anthropology that are better suited to their
"editoral vision" (e.g. _Cultural Anthropology_). As editors of the official
publication of the AAA aren't they obligated to represent the mainstream of
archeological, biological, and cultural anthropology?
6. According to a recent survey published in the _Anthropology Newsletter_
archeology and biological anthropology make up about 50% of current American
anthropology. Don't these subdisciplines deserve a voice in _AA_?
7. How much power do editors typically have over the content of a journal?
8. What can those of us who are dissatisfied w/ the new direction of _AA_ do
about this? Marsha (my wife) and I have decided to readjust our AAA
memberships so that none of our money will go to _AA_. What else can we do?
do?
Rob Quinlan
|