American Anthropologist: Igor Kopytoff

Citlali Molina

Professor Rainville

American Economies

September 24, 2012

American Anthropologist: Igor Kopytoff

            Igor Kopytoff was born in 1930 and is currently a professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.  He received his B.A. in anthropology from Northwestern University as well as a M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.  In 1960, He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from Northwestern University.  His thesis focused on the Suku community in the Congo.  Igor Kopytoff studies cultural anthropology and has done much of his research in Africa. 

            Kopytoff focuses on the value of commodities in different cultures.  In his writings, he makes a point that the biography of an object defines a value, in other words, an object can be valued differently depending on where it has been.  Aside from this, a lot of his research comes from studying slavery in Africa.   He studies cultural phenomenon such as social class, religion and politics.  His research has also lead him to travel to other places in Africa such as Cameroon and the Ivory Coast.