ANT207H1 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Tanya, Cultural Anthropology, Michel Foucault
ANT207H1
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Professor Tanya Li Sept. 15, 2016
ANT207 LECTURE 1
INTRODUCING CORE CONCEPTS
Film: Trobriand Cricket
• Takes place in Papua New Guinea
• Response to British Colonialism in PNG
- cricket is played for conflict resolution
- game came from England
- missionaries brought new values, culture, traditions
- national equipment and techniques are used
- however, the game has undergone a cultural transformation in PNG (accompanied by
traditional dances, decorations, and chants)
- leaders of the local political movement believe these changes are a result of cultural
adaptation
- game was usually played as a substitute for warfare, and to bring people together
- instead of British custom of 12 players playing, they made it a community game
where everyone could play (any number of players)
- in PNG, uniform became dress of war, lines symbolized war formations, competition
became ritualized and political
- competitive obligatory activity (came with a ceremony)
- gifts of food, men of wealth would organize and pay for competitions
- now, it is a completely different game
- “magic” is used by spectators, players, and umpire to prepare props, etc.
- host team provides ball, which is polished with stingray skin, sandpaper, pig’s tusk
- each team has an entrance dance and an “out” dance, performed at every out (there
can be other dances as well, for various purposes)
- tapioca is used to depict sexuality
***Observations about power, culture, politics, society (rules/regulations), economics, gender,
personhood, role of religion/spiritual beliefs:
Power look to a leader (usually older, male), presence of colonial power is prominent,
intimidation is prevalent, taking power back over the missionaries by changing their
game
Culture traditional game of cricket adapted to PNG culture (is now a completely
different thing)
Politics (the way we organize, channel, and institutionalize power) there is a central
man around whom everyone operates for the glory of the whole village, but especially
him
Economy wealthy men funded the game,
Society very focused on war/battle, stratification (clear hierarchy), emphasis on social
cohesion/solidarity
Gender players were mostly men
Personhood individual creativity, people are responsible for themselves
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Professor Tanya Li Sept. 15, 2016
Religion dances throughout seemed to be spiritually grounded
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Film: trobriand cricket: takes place in papua new guinea, response to british colonialism in png cricket is played for conflict resolution. However, the game has undergone a cultural transformation in png (accompanied by traditional dances, decorations, and chants) leaders of the local political movement believe these changes are a result of cultural adaptation. Magic is used by spectators, players, and umpire to prepare props, etc. Gifts of food, men of wealth would organize and pay for competitions. Now, it is a completely different game. ***observations about power, culture, politics, society (rules/regulations), economics, gender, personhood, role of religion/spiritual beliefs: Power look to a leader (usually older, male), presence of colonial power is prominent, intimidation is prevalent, taking power back over the missionaries by changing their game. Culture traditional game of cricket adapted to png culture (is now a completely different thing)
