Question

Discuss Kula as a total social phenomenon. What do social theorists mean when they speak of a total social phenomenon? What is the basic structure of Kula (how does it work)? In what ways is it a total social phenomenon?

Answer 1

TOTAL SOCIAL PHENOMENON: Total social phenomenon are social phenomenon which express at the same time, a variety of different types of institutions. In that way, they represent culture's economic system, political ethos,law, and other cultural values.

Kula Ring: The Kula ring consists of 18 island communities of archipelago Massim (with the Trobriand Islands) and thousands of members. People move at times miles by canoe to exchange Kula materials, including red shell-disc necklaces traded north (circling the ring in clockwise way) and white shell armbands traded in the south(circling counterclockwise). Given that initial offer was armband, the closing gift inevitably is necklace and vice versa.. Participation terms vary across regions. For example, Trobriand Islands exchange chiefs' monopoly power, Dobu has between 100-150 people involved in exchange.

KULA as a Total Social Phenomenon: Kula is like gift, but it is also like currency.When Kula travels, it takes new stories and spread it. Moreover the reverence that one has depends on the amount he sends. Thus Kula has sociopolitical and economic connotation and without it there would be radical changes. Thus Kula is a total social phenomenon.