It is during this visit among the Gebusi that Knauft introduces two concepts which must be kept in mind when trying to evaluate or understand any culture. The first concept that Knauft introduces is cultural values, which are notions of morality that a group of people or society embraces and emphasizes. While the second is what Knauft calls the underside of culture, these are beliefs and practices that occur, but which directly contradict the cultural values a society normally emphasizes. For example the Gebusi use the term Kogwayay to explain their culture “ … the term represents their concept of culture itself- the beliefs, practices, and style of living that are special and unique to the Gebusi people” ( p.17). However, this term when deconstructed only presents the positive aspects of Gebusi culture, such as togetherness/ friendship, pleasant conversation and joking/cheering.
When it comes to writing a study of another culture, the language used can sometimes highlight whether or not you truly understand the culture being studied. The language of Horace Miner’s Body Ritual among the Nacirema is used, for instance, to satirize the mistakes many anthropologists make when they assume other societies have religious/supernatural aspects in their cultures, regardless of if they do or not. The article that Horace Miner writes himself utilizes the chance to show how much some anthropologists get caught up in assumptions and rely on terms such as “ritual,” “ceremony,” and “magical” to explain practices that they are perhaps unfamiliar with. For example, Miner describes the bathroom as a “ritual” site or medicine as “magic” material. At the end of article, it is even stated that the Nacirema are “magic-ridden” people (Miner, 149), although most Americans are void of many practices involving supernatural and even religious aspects.
Through out his book he makes it very clear how passionate and devote he was to his task, and how he never hinders in his pursuits. It is his passion, though, that makes his books documents of his opinion, not historical accounts. There are numerous cases through out the text in which Las Casas provides many of his own personal biases. This is done in the hopes of convincing the reader of the urgency of his pursuit. The following will prove that the work of Bartolome de Las Casas cannot be viewed as a credible historical account because of multiple exaggerations, inconsistencies, and persuasive language used within the text.
c. Columbus is usually portrayed as an enlightened, peaceful explorer who befriended the native people in traditional history books. Christopher Columbus, portrayed by Zinn is an agent of conquest with a lust for gold and other resources, or one who had the willingness to torture and kill others to obtain these goals. 4. Why does Zinn dispute Henry Kissinger’s statement: “History is the memory of states?” d. Zinn thinks that no one should take the memory of their nation as their own because he states in his book that “Nations are not communities and never have been.” 5. What is Zinn’s basic criticism of historian Samuel Eliot Morison’s book, Christopher Columbus, Mariner?
f one were to look at the “Nacirema’s” cultural behaviors regarding physical appearance and health without any insight or knowledge of the specific beliefs or values of that culture, they might seem bizarre and even incomprehensible. By showing behaviors and “rituals” performed by this unknown tribe, Miner allowed others to see that the way studies were representing distinctive cultures was narrowminded and defective For me this article is reminiscent of Benjamin Franklins essay the Savages of North America, in which he observed how Native American society, specifically the six nations of the confederation of Iroquois tribes, differed from English society in America.
An exception to this would be in times during war. Both men and women would participate in acts of homosexual intercourse to presumably satisfy their sexual needs while away from their spouses (Pomeroy, 2004). Homosexuality was also considered acceptable when used in education and in no way due to a sexual attraction. Sappho has proved otherwise in her poetry. With her erotic and provocative descriptions of women, she shows a desire to be with a woman in more ways than the ones deemed as socially acceptable.
This is because unfortunately there still remain a large number of people who believe being heterosexual is the only acceptable form of sexual orientation in our society. And there have been many attempts to reduce this population of people who identify themselves as gay or bisexual. People who have strong conservative or Catholic backgrounds have been most supportive towards methods to redirect sexual orientation. Despite the possible harm these techniques can cause an individual, some individuals still seeks ways to “cure” homosexuality. Among these attempts, a more widely discussed technique is a psychological approach; is Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy.
The writer believes that we accept our beliefs on the basis of our opinion, what we have seen and the things that we have been exposed to. He also believes that we lack the ability to achieve the desired results, because certain feelings have been destroyed: • Our beliefs factual • The
Whitman, Joyce), Orwell finds its main quality in the way it focuses on an ordinary human being. He states: “... the whole atmosphere is deeply familiar, because you have all the while the feeling that these things are happening to you.” By refusing to take part in any political struggle and by “accepting” the reality, Miller is able to appeal to an “ordinary man”. Orwell however adds: “It will be seen that this is something (…) out of fashion,” and goes on with closer historical analysis in the second part to prove his point. This analysis takes the reader from
I wished to come here and say that I am a man who does not exist for others.” Roark is content with his individualistic approach, and while he forms connections with certain individuals throughout the novel, their ultimate rejection of him does little to affect his ambition and belief. An elevation of the individualistic rationalist, as opposed to the co-dependent “second-hander”, is articulated in the novel through the juxtaposition