In Richard Lee's experience with the Kalahari is a prime example of how outsiders fall victim to another cultures ethnocentrism. In failing to understand how their culture functioned, Lee was made to be the butt of the tribal joke. Unknowingly, this had really nothing to do with singling him out for not being a tribe member. More accurately, this treatment was due to the way the culture treats all members of their society as a kind of "checks and balance"to keep any one person from thinking they are powerful enough to be advisories. This makes the members "gentle" according to Lee's conversation with one of the natives. The reason the tribe gave him such a difficult time about the ox was to teach him that he was not so grand. As the sole provider of tobacco in the area, this gave him a seat of power.
In Chagnon's article, both parties (the new comer and the natives) both felt some form of ethnocentrism that was blatantly apparent. Chagnon, upon walking into the camp felt that his welcome was inhospitable as the people he was meeting did nothing to clean themselves up or change their everyday happenings to accommodate him as a guest and someone looking to befriend them and the community. Conversely, the people found him stupid and easily manipulated. It was not until they began to understand how each other worked that they began to communicate and work well together, though Chagnon, in my opinion, never really seemed to appreciate the way their society functioned as deduced by his tone throughout the article.
Ethnocentrism is something we all partake in, weather we are mocking the cuisine of another country or are unable to comprehend the point in some other religious ceremony. We look at our own culture as "the in group" and compare all other groups to our own- How the other cultures measure up to our own. A good example is the difference between religions. All religions believe that theirs is the correct way of believing. Most people don't stop to think of all the similarities between holy books and ways of worship nor do they stop to consider the merit each different religion has to offer. We simply believe our way is best.
Oh wow, I liked how you kind of turned the ethnocentrism process on the Bushman instead of Lee. Although Lee did have some ethnocentric tendencies, the Bushman culture singled Lee out, but not in a mean sort of way. Chagnon seemed to be the biggest problem though, his view of the natives didn't seem to alter, like you said. It's more understandable when ordinary people show ethnocentrism because they haven't had the experience of other cultures and haven't learned to be more accepting. Anthropologists, especially Chagnon and Lee, should know better and should have seen the cultures as they were, and not made as many judgements against the people.
ReplyDeleteReligious people can definitely be ethnocentric, just look throughout history. Some religious zealots have killed innocent people simply because they want others to convert. (Yes, my family is Catholic and I have to admit that) There are many similarities in all sorts of Holy text and manuscripts, but people don't stop to consider that. They think: it's my way, or your just going to suffer for it. Religion and ethnocentrism can go hand in hand, and you build a strong case for that.
I though it was an interesting take on things. Both sides do it. Its easier to see who the authors of the article are ethnocentric- the story is being told from their point of view after all. But if you look closely you can see that the communities often had a better grasp on how their visitors thought than the anthropologists had on the people they were observing and interacting with. With that knowledge- Lee being the butt of a tribe wide joke, and Chagnon having his belongings stollen- The communities were able to conduct themselves in a way that made it clear that they believed their way of thinking was better than that of their visitors.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you saying that ethnocentrism is something that we all take part in because in a way we can all be like this. We do compare our own culture to everyone else's. That is just the way we are. I also liked what you said about the Lee article "outsiders fall victim to another cultures ethnocentrism."
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you on your take of this. It happens so often that we compare our culture to that of others. Often times we may not even think we are doing it because it could be something as little as the food they make. Another just as you spoke about was religion, we all think that the religion we practice is the right way. I can't judge someone for what they believe in. I was raised a certain way of believing just as everyone else. In the end we just need to realize that We are no better then anyone else. And that you can't control how others are brought up
ReplyDelete