Socio-Cultural Materiality in Anthropology of Daniel Miller

Abstract

The work of British anthropologist Daniel Miller deals with various issues, but it has a common goal: to overcome the widespread theory of the «two worlds». Moral principles and social ideals exist, not in spite of the fact that people use material objects, but because of these objects. The material turn is associated with the rejection of the opposition between objects and subjects, the researchers should show their unity that comes from the idea that man is a material creature and that artifacts are not passive. The author’s attention to artifacts, playing a major role in the production and consumption, opens up opportunities for new interpretations of many concepts in the social sciences. Artifacts are the product of objectifi cation, regardless of their tangible or intangible form they are able to influence the behavior of people through a variety of media and technology. The ability of objects to determine our behavior and understanding of ourselves Miller calls «socio-cultural materiality», this formula is more appropriate than the expression «material culture», which is usually correlated with the concept of «spiritual culture». D. Miller justifies the thesis about the multiplicity of forms of materiality and immateriality, removing, thereby, their dichotomous opposition. The study of performative practices allows us to expand the study of cultural heritage and clarify the concept of «intangible heritage», which is not opposed, but complementary to socio-cultural materiality. D. Miller outlines the frontiers of a new field of knowledge called «digital anthropology».