Method in the Study of Totemism

"Method in the Study of Totemism" by Andrew Lang is a deep dive into the world of totemism, questioning whether there's a standard form it takes across different societies. Lang carefully picks apart current ideas, especially when they clash, to find a clear way to study the rules and habits of groups that use totems. He looks closely at how totemism shows up in places like British Columbia and Australia, considering things like clans that only marry outside their group, how clans get their names from totems, how people treat totems with respect, and the restrictions that go along with them. Lang argues that even though totemism looks different in various places, many of its parts are linked together, hinting at a shared base. The goal is to sort out the main signs of totemism and make a solid plan for figuring out this human behavior.