SC - OT: Anthropology

[Ted Eisenstein]

    And then you have the gentle Tasaday . . .

    Sieggy

- ----- Original Message -----

>
> This problem is well recognised within the cultural Anthropological
> community.  The most infamous case is that of Margaret Mead and the
Samoans
> (although that was in regarding to young females being sexually active
> before marriage - not cannibalism). It is one of the reasons that
> anthropologists are now taught witness participation.  Basically as well
as
> listening to what the members of the culture are telling you, you must
also
> participate and see for your own eyes.  And then record both.  I know in
my
> own culture, what my family says about always going to church on Sunday
> doesn't quite gell with the actual fact that mostly they only go once per
> month.
>
> > I wonder too if some tribes didn't foster the belief that they were
> > cannibals to frighten their neighbours?
> > Gwynydd
>
> Or to impress/denigrate the anthropologists!  The mere concept of having
an
> outsider in their midst can change the way some cultures act - which is
why
> most cultural anthropologists do fieldwork for 9 months or more.  The
first
> three or so months is to integrate into the culture until the
anthropologist
> becomes part of that culture and the people act "normally" around them.
Or
> at least this is the theory!
>
> Sorry, I'm doing some introductory Cultural Anthropology units at Uni this
> year (in Canberra) and find the whole topic fascinating!
>
> Mel.