Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tales From The Jungle: Margaret Mead - Part 1 of 6
Exploring the work of Margaret Mead, this film investigates the 12 months Mead spent with the Samoans in the Twenties.
Her resulting book, Coming Of Age In Samoa, had a huge impact on Western culture.
Mead believed cultures like the Samoans could teach people how to live in harmony. Her book depicts a society of free love -- devoid of jealousy and teenage turmoil.
But, decades later, her work was criticised as being tainted by her romantic views and strong belief in liberal values.
Tales From The Jungle examines whether Mead's study was merely misinterpretation and romantic wishful thinking.
Tales From The Jungle: Malinowski - Part 1 of 6
This film examines the work of Bronislaw Malinowski, often revered as the founding father of modern anthropology.
Malinowski famously "went native", intending to live among the mysterious tribes of the Trobriand Islands in the Pacific Ocean for 12 months.
However, the outbreak of the First World War forced him to stay for four years and the resulting work he produced was seen as pioneering.
Some 25 years after his death, his newly-published diaries revealed that he actually reviled the islanders and dismissed them as backward savages.
The revelation rocked the reputation of both Malinowski and anthropology itself.
This film returns to the islands to explore Malinowski's story and its legacy.
First Contact (BBC4 Anthropology Season) - Part 1 of 6
Adventurous and high-paying tourists are being offered the chance to make "first contact" with some of the world's last remaining uncontacted tribes.
First contact with the outside world usually spells disaster for genuine uncontacted tribes.
Presented by Mark Anstice, an experienced expedition leader and author of a book also called First Contact, this film looks at the complex issues surrounding the ethics of first contact and meets the people involved.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Rain Forest Shaman
A shaman searches the rain forest of Paraguay for medicinal cures.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
UFO Haiti - Real ALIEN CORPSE recovered from UFO crash
This alien corpse was recovered from a downed UFO on August 2nd, 2007 and was leaked from a hi up top secret gov't source official...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Rights of Indigenous People
by Anup Shah
This page: http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/indigenous/.
To print full details (expanded/alternative links, side notes, etc.) use the printer-friendly version:
http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/indigenous/?p=1
There are approximately 370 million indigenous people spanning 70 countries, worldwide. Historically they have often been dispossessed of their lands, or in the center of conflict for access to valuable resources because of where they live, or, in yet other cases, struggling to live the way they would like. Indeed, indigenous people are often amongst the most disadvantaged people in the world.
This web page has the following sub-sections:
Who are indigenous people and what makes them different?
Conflicting Issues such as Environment, “Biopiracy”
Indigenous people have often had many rights denied
UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Major Countries Opposed to Various Rights for Indigenous Peoples
Setback: draft Declaration opposed/delayed by a UN General Assembly subsidiary in November 2006
Declaration Adopted By UN General Assembly, September 2007
Customary Law—backward or relevant justice systems?
Indigenous Peoples’ Struggle Around The World
More Information
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Shiva Darsan
"Shiva Darsan" is as much a video poem, as it is an experimental ethnographic documentary on Hinduism, holy men, spirituality and transcendence. Shiva is the Hindu lord of procreation and death. Darsan is sacred perception. Darsan is as much to see, as it is to be seen by that of the worshipper and the deity, holy person or sacred place. It is as much the spiritual that yields to be grasped, known, touched and experienced, as it is the worshipper who is there to receive the divine.
This piece is also a personal reflection on the Shivaratri Festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, the birthday celebration of Shiva at one of his most important pilgrimage sites in Asia and at the most sacred of Nepalese shrines. It is here that Shiva's birthday celebration is most spectacular with tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims from throughout India and Nepal in attendance annually. Prior to entering Pashupatinath Temple, the pilgrims ritually purify themselves in the sacred Bagmati River. On the shores of the river, Brahman priests perform cremation ceremonies with the deceased's family members. While devotees of Shiva completely covered in cremation ash perform puja, or ritualized offerings to their lord.
"Shiva Darsan" is the first tape produced for "In Celebration of Life.... In Celebration of Death...", a series of experimental ethnographic tapes tapes shot during my fourteen month sabbatical abroad in Asia and the Mid-East while in intensive research and videotape production. This series reveals the religious, cultural and philosophical beliefs of indigenous people from various cultures by exploring their rituals, dance, music and daily activities that revolve around life and death. From birth to death, special rites and celebrations mark the important events of one's existence, assuring a symbiosis of body and soul with the divine. This deep relationship between the people and their gods are reaffirmed through daily activity. At times, the person symbolically becomes god, strengthening their own sense of sacredness and self-respect.
Completed: (c) 1994, Barbara Sykes-Dietze, Twelve minutes in length