Sinews of Survival

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sinews of Survival
ISBN
978-0774805964

Sinews of Survival: The Living Legacy of Inuit Clothing is a 1997 ethnographic book about Inuit clothing by Canadian ethnologist Betty Kobayashi Issenman.[2] The book draws from existing research as well as Issenman's own travels and research with Inuit seamstresses.[3] Sinews of Survival is illustrated with maps, clothing patterns, and color photographs of numerous clothing items.[4]

Summary

The first chapters of the book discuss the

Caribou Inuit, Nunatsiarmiut or Baffin Island Inuit, Nunavimiut or Ungava Peninsula Inuit, Qikirtamiut or Belcher Islands Inuit, and the Inuit of Nunatsiavut in Labrador.[4] Although focused on Canadian Inuit in particular, the book also provides a brief introduction to the clothing of other circumpolar peoples, including the Greenlandic Inuit, Alaskan Iñupiaq and Yup'ik, and the indigenous peoples of Siberia, due to shared traits in their respective clothing.[4] The remainder of the text discusses the aesthetic design and spiritual elements of Inuit clothing and explores areas for future research.[4]

Reception

Sinews of Survival was positively received by academics. Archaeologist Charles D. Arnold described it in

Choice Reviews, B.B. Chico highlighted the "extensive bibliography and useful glossary."[6]

The book was also well-received by lay critics. Paul Waters of the

Montreal Gazette wrote that the book was "richly detailed" but found it too academic for most lay readers.[7] Robin McGrath of The Telegram wrote that there is "a great deal here to interest lovers of art and fashion."[8] In 2004, Michelle Paver, an author of historical fiction, named Sinews of Survival as one of her favorite anthropology books.[9]

Sinews of Survival won the 1998 Millia Davenport Award from the American Costume Society and the Alcuin Society Award for Excellence in Book Design.[10][11] Issenman was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002 for her research on Inuit clothing, including her work on Sinews of Survival.[12][13]

References

  1. ^
    JSTOR 25605994
    .
  2. JSTOR 40512703
    .
  3. ^
    JSTOR 40512144
    .
  4. ^
    JSTOR 25605906
    .
  5. JSTOR 1185973
    .
  6. ProQuest 225886153
    – via ProQuest.
  7. The Montreal Gazette
    . pp. J6. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  8. ^ McGrath, Robin (April 5, 1998). "Review of Sinews of Survival". The Telegram.
  9. ^ Paver, Michelle (November 10, 2004). "Michelle Paver's favourite books on archaeology and anthropology". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  10. ProQuest 213892406 – via ProQuest
    .
  11. ^ "CSA Millia Davenport Publication Award". Costume Society of America.
  12. ProQuest 433847069
    . Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Betty Kobayashi Issenman, C.M., M.S.S." Order of Canada. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sinews_of_Survival&oldid=1177242449"