The Hawaiian Islands are a fascinating geological wonder, formed from a series of volcanic eruptions over millions of years. One type of volcanic island found in Hawaii is known as a mafic island. Mafic islands, also referred to as shield volcanoes, are characterized by their low viscosity lava and gentle slopes. The term "mafic" is derived from the words magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe), which are abundant in the composition of the lava. Mafic lava is characterized by its dark color, as it contains high levels of iron and magnesium-rich minerals. This type of lava is relatively fluid and flows more easily compared to other types of lava, which allows the shield volcanoes to gradually build up over time.
Witchcraft however, is different, because unexpected events can unfold. One might do magic or a spell for one purpose, and unusual results can show up. Or also, as I think, it can show up in unintentional side-effects of sorts. Not always, but since experimentation is essential, things will crop up at times, and unintentional will happen on at least rare occasions.
This time I want to focus on the more specific term that everyone keeps searching for, and on more pertinent examples that seem to draw people to my blog. Well I think most people are Boasian in a Weberian kind of way but we don t have the same self-consciusness of this being an available label as we do structure-functionalism.
This type of lava is relatively fluid and flows more easily compared to other types of lava, which allows the shield volcanoes to gradually build up over time. The Hawaiian Islands were formed as a result of the Pacific Plate moving over a hotspot in the Earth's mantle. The hotspot is a stationary plume of extremely hot material that rises through the mantle, creating a conduit for volcanic activity.
When was structure functionalism?
I got into an argument recently with a senior colleague about whether or not Magic, Witchcraft, and Oracles Among The Azande was a structure-functionalist monograph. I argued that it wasn’t and that the book had more to do with Seligman (actually I said Westermark, but I meant Seligman) and his influence on Evans-Pritchard than with Radcliffe-Brown. Many people — particularly non-anthropologists — today remember MWO as the classical statement of the idea that witchcraft beliefs were epiphenomena of underlying conflicts in social structure. This is indeed a textbook structure functionalist approach to witchraft — it’s just that Monica Wilson is (afaik) the person who articulated it, not Evans-Pritchard! And of course by 1961 Evans-Pritchard is producing pieces like History and Anthropology. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that all of Evans-Pritchard’s works were not really so much structure functionalist as just structuralist, and he appeared less and less post-R-B and more and more pre-Needham. Of course Evans-Pritchard was always his own thinker, and it’s been a long time since I’ve revisited his work, so perhaps I’m off base here.
Thinking about it more broadly, however, structure functionalism is a brand that continues to sell even though the label covers a multitude of different approaches. As Stocking points out in After Tylor, by the time that structure functionalism came together as a program it was already drifting apart in other directions: Mancusian Ma(r)xism, Hocartesians, and (slightly later) Barthian transactionalism, etc. etc. Still we — and perhaps here I just mean clueless Yanks — continue to use this term today. As a ‘brand’ structure functionalism — and particularly the work done in Africa — in general seems to sell.
I was recently reading a book which discussed the history of anthropology. The book — which to be fair was just giving a summary — said that anthropology began with a spurt of important work in the Pacific (Haddon, Malinowski, etc. etc.), which then gave way to sustained work in Africa. I was flabberghasted — not only does this sort of summary ignore that fact that the British worked in places outside of Africa, it totally ignores the fact that for many (indeed, probably most) anthropologists the paradigmatic ‘field location’ is America — and particularly Morth American! It was as if Boasian anthropology (or its French connection via Levi-Strauss) just hadn’t happened.
Partially this is because, as many people have pointed out, of the fact that while both Boas and Radcliffe-Brown were institution builders, Boas didn’t make programmatic statements the way that R-B did. Which is not to say that the Boasians didn’t have a program. It’s just that they didn’t sell it the way R-B did.
So… when was structure functionalism again? I feel to a certain extent the brand continues along today, decades after its main exponents stopped writing, and continues to hide a multitude of different approaches.
Alex Golub is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His book Leviathans at The Gold Mine has been published by Duke University Press. You can contact him at [email protected]
As the Pacific Plate moves northwest over the hotspot, new islands are formed and older ones become inactive. The process of island formation starts with an underwater volcano, or seamount, which eventually breaches the ocean's surface. Over time, numerous eruptions occur, with the lava flow creating new layers and gradually building the island's height. The mafic lava that is erupted onto the surface spreads out in all directions, resulting in the characteristic shield shape of the island. The Hawaiian Islands are home to several well-known mafic islands, including the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. The Big Island, also known as Hawaii Island, is the largest and youngest of the islands. It is home to five shield volcanoes, including Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which are considered some of the most massive volcanoes on Earth. Mafic islands in Hawaii have a unique ecosystem due to their isolation and geological history. The lava flows create a variety of terrains, including rugged volcanic landscapes, fertile soils, and black sand beaches. These islands have a rich biodiversity, with unique plant and animal species that have adapted to the challenging volcanic conditions. In conclusion, mafic islands in Hawaii, such as the Big Island, are formed from volcanic eruptions and characterized by their low viscosity lava and shield-like shape. These islands have a distinct geological history and support a unique ecosystem. Exploring the mafic islands of Hawaii offers a glimpse into the fascinating world of volcanic activity and its impact on the natural environment..
Reviews for "The Geological Significance of Mafic Island Hawaii"
1. Laura - 1 star
I had really high expectations for Mafic Island Hawaii, but I was incredibly disappointed. First of all, the staff was extremely rude and unhelpful. They seemed annoyed whenever I asked them questions or requested assistance. Secondly, the rooms were not clean at all. There were stains on the sheets and the bathroom was dirty. Lastly, the food at the on-site restaurant was terrible. It was tasteless and overpriced. Overall, my experience at Mafic Island Hawaii was far from enjoyable and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Mark - 2 stars
While the location of Mafic Island Hawaii is beautiful, the overall experience left much to be desired. The rooms were outdated and in need of renovation. The furniture was old and uncomfortable, and there were issues with the plumbing in the bathroom. Additionally, the Wi-Fi connection was unreliable and often slow. Furthermore, the service at the hotel was lacking. The staff did not seem interested in assisting guests and were not attentive to their needs. Overall, I found the experience to be subpar and would choose a different hotel if I were to visit Hawaii again.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
Mafic Island Hawaii was not what I expected. The hotel claims to offer a luxurious and relaxing experience, but that was not my reality. The noise level in the hotel was unbearable. There were constantly loud parties happening and the walls were paper-thin, so I could hear everything happening in the adjacent rooms. Additionally, the hotel amenities were not well-maintained. The pool area was dirty and the gym equipment was worn out and in need of repair. The lack of attention to detail and the overall noise level really affected my stay at Mafic Island Hawaii and I would not choose to stay there again.