Local Identities and wider Influences

Wittgenstein Award Z 49 Main research area: Cultural and Social Anthropologie Andre GINGRICH 16.06.2000 To date the ethnologist Andre Gingrich has primarily been studying asiatic cultures in Arabia and the Himalayas. In addition he is working on systematic comparisons of cultures and on interactions between European and non- European social and cultural development. One focus of his work lies in the area of mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptions of the world. A further focus relates to the investigation of relationships between the sexes in different cultural and intercultural contexts. Gingrich plans to use the Wittgenstein prize money to consolidate and expand this particular research area, placing particular emphasis on the promotion of women and of young scientists. In addition he feels responsible for the development of an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective, in which the growing importance of cultural and social anthropology (ethnology) will be combined with the gradual dissolution of the concept of "humanities" in favour of an up-to-date priority for cultural and social studies.