Final answer:
Dr. Dettwyler titled her book 'Dancing Skeletons' to symbolize the effects of malnutrition observed during her anthropological fieldwork in Mali, which led to the emaciated condition of children's bodies, and to draw on the historical imagery of death's constant presence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Dettwyler named her book Dancing Skeletons due to the metaphorical and literal significance of skeletons in her work as an anthropologist, particularly when discussing malnutrition and mortality. The title is thought-provoking and captures the essence of her fieldwork in Mali, where she observed the effects of malnutrition, signified by the emaciated bodies of children, reminiscent of dancing skeletons. It can be seen as a poignant symbol of the struggle against malnutrition and the fragility of life.
The biocultural approach, often used in anthropology to discuss how human behavior intersects with disease and nutrition, is relevant to Dr. Dettwyler's work. Her research, much like the efforts of George Armelagos and others in the field of medical and nutritional anthropology, contributes to understanding how these factors impact human populations.
The phrase "dancing skeletons" may also evoke the historical personification of death, as seen in medieval art during periods of widespread illness like the Black Death, representing the constant presence and dance of death in human life.