1. What is the focus of Stephanie Homola's book?
Stephanie Homola's book focuses on divination practices in China and Taiwan, exploring their resilience and psychological comfort. It delves into the trust in diviners' skills and techniques, as well as the historical depth of the field. The book also examines the status of mantic arts in both countries and their survival despite being denounced as 'superstitious'. Homola's approach involves building epistemic partnerships with specialists and gaining expertise in various mantic practices. The book presents an anthropology of individuals and an ethnography of relationships, offering a comprehensive repertoire of terminology and concepts related to present-day divination. It highlights the presence of multiple modernities in the realm of religion and ritual, showcasing the survival of mantic arts despite secularization and scientism. Overall, the book is considered a milestone in social anthropology studies.
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