Abstract

This paper argues that social anthropology can predict some social change. It introduces a structural-functionalist theory of fashion to counter the objection that functionalist anthropology ignores social change. It proposes that we have probably misperceived the initial objection. It identifies a tempting assumption. Then it argues that the structural-functionalist theory of fashion enables prediction. The paper also features a little rhyme and a diary entry, which you might wish to skip past. The paper itself is PUBLISHABLE and important. (Draft was written fast though, forgive. No intentional use of AI, but does it add its own foxy word change/error sometimes?)