Are there things that you can’t put a price on?Is it all about the monetary value of the gift, or does gift-giving have a social value beyond the price tag?
In the readings on Economic Anthropology, we’ve put an emphasis on the importance of culture in creating value. Individual objects are worth more than just their monetary value, and when we exchange gifts we create social meanings that go far beyond the price tag of the gift. Write a post that explains why money is not the universal measure of all value. Draw on the readings for examples to illustrate your point .
Use these sources for the response:
The Many Hands Shirt: Reuniting a Family and an Heirloom
https://www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/many-hands-shirt-chief-black-horn/
In this column from Sapiens, a museum curator gives us an example of a key concept from chapter 8: the value of an object isn’t just measured in money. As you read this article, think about the ways that people value things outside of money. Are there things that you can’t put a price on?
“Throw Me Something, Mister!”
https://www.sapiens.org/culture/throw-me-something-mister/
This article considers the idea of gift exchange – another key concept from chapter 8 – as seen during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Read this article and think about the value of gift-giving: is it all about the monetary value of the gift, or does gift-giving have a social value beyond the price tag?