Sunday, March 22, 2020

Trobriand Island Culture- Cricket Essays - Short Form Cricket

Trobriand Island Culture- Cricket T r o b r i a n d I s l a n d C r i c k e t Moiz Bhinderwala Westford, MA A. In one paragraph, describe the subjects of the documentary. Tell who they are, where they live and why the film was made. The subjects of this documentary ?Trobriand Cricket- An Ingenious Response to Colonialism', are these interesting people, natives of the Trobriand islands, which is located off the coast of Papua-New Guinea. The trobrianders are a tribe who are driven by a culture where magic holds a significant role. Before the arrival of the European missionaries magic was widely used in inter-tribal warfare. The British missionaries who arrived in the Trobriands around the late 19th century found the ritualized warfare of the Trobrianders ?barbarous? and immediately forbade it. Coincidentally, they introduced the game of cricket to the Islanders as a substitute for the conflict between two local groups, and to encourage morality. This game, which was introduced in its original form in the early 20th century, has changed quite a lot to fit into the culture of the Trobriand people. This film was made to highlight the Trobriand Cricket as a great example of Acculturation - how one part of a culture is transmitted through contact between groups with different cultures, in this case the contact of the British missionaries with the people of the Trobriand Islands. It depicts how the game of cricket has undergone a remarkable cultural transformation, among the people of Trobriand islands. Mixture of Good and Evil: The values important to this culture show that the Trobrianders believe in both the goodness and evilness of human nature. As an example for their belief in goodness, we can use the fact that the elder people are revered in this society. They may not play the game, but they are in charge of jobs like keeping in pace with the score-keeper of the game, counting off the number of batsmen left, and so on. Another example is the gifts of prestige food that these people exchange in the ceremony after the game. One more amazing aspect that their game has developed is the fact that the victory of the hosting team is understood in advance, it is predecided. So according to our definitions, the game of cricket that these people play is not a sport. This is done in order to pay respect to the organizers of the game, especially the center man. This points out their belief in the goodness of human nature. Similarly, their belief that Man also has evil in him, is evident when the game is abandoned and the narrator tells us that there is a certain air of suspicion among the players, that the opponents from the sponsoring political movement may have brought on rain with counter-magic to purposely stop the game. Man in harmony with Nature: The Trobrianders live in harmony with the nature that surrounds them, and this is evident in their sense of dressing, decoration, their tools. They use palm fronds to count the score of a game, or to count the number of baskets of yam, when they are farming. The bats, balls and stumps they use are carved out of light and hard wood. The clothes they wear, especially the traditional pubic covering that is expected of cricket players, which is made from the skin of a beetlenut tree. They use natural products as part of their everyday lives. The fact that man should in every way live in complete harmony with nature, is synthesized in their set of values. Present Oriented: Although we can witness all the 3 different kinds of time-orientations, the present is valued a lot more than the past or the future. The Trobriand people do yam farming, but at the same time, during the harvest period they invest their time for the game of cricket. They prefer living in the present. They do not worry too much about future, nor do they base their values upon what has happened in the past. As the narrator says, the game of cricket is still evolving in Trobriand, it shows that the people are open to changes in the game, and not

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Reaction paper of Departures Essay Example

Reaction paper of Departures Essay Example Reaction paper of Departures Essay Reaction paper of Departures Essay Death-maybe It was one thing or maybe it was another. But still, it all falls down to one man (or one woman) lying, waiting to affably having themselves burled while their loved ones mourn, grieve, or even dramatically act as though thieve affected as the eulogy or the final blessing is delivered. But that one depends on culture, and maybe the background of the deceased. But still the celebration of someone who passed away is considered celestial birthday party. Death is celebrated as though it was birth. Thus, preparation is needed and is accordingly applied. The discussion about the movie Departures about the preparation of the deceased would be elaborated through this, or my, reaction paper. The movie Departures, embraces the cultural value of Japanese society In accordance about their dead. Departures was very insightful into its depiction of the many facets of life and death. Although this film about a man who lost his Job being a cello player in orchestral group and ended up with the practice of preparing the dead, it is more focused on showing the unique burial process in Japans culture. The protagonist named Adagio had an argument tit his friend and his wife In the choice of his new job. I understood why his friend, along with his wife had doubt about his work, because, personally, I also agree that It is very unusual to work with the deceased especially help them in preparation for their travel. But still he stood in his ground and pursued his new Job, never forgetting his love and passion for cello playing. When he is depressed after his wife left him, he made as his emotional outlet leading him to survive each passing day with the strength to work harder and move forward, Before I watched this movie, I had no Idea hat the bodies were prepared directly In front of the family; kind of creepy In my opinion. This movie is quite lively despite Its focus upon death. It Is a highly enjoyable movie, you can learn a lot of moral lessons, like, always be prepared as to what will happen and enjoy every second with your loved ones before they are gone. This movie has taught as, personally, not to wait for any person to pass before actually treasuring and realizing how important they are to us. It had a remarkable storyline that showed the uniqueness of Japans culture. In the movie, I saw rituals hat are only followed by few, yet are greatly valued since It represents the sendoff of a person that was once living and breathing with us. After watching this film, I felt that I respected for those people who are involved in funeral processes, more than before. It is a job that is often times looked upon as dull, depressing and pessimistic. However, this film also portrays this profession in a positive light that allows us to respect the traditional funeral process that remains existent because of the effort these people. Distaffs mall Job can be called insufficient, the movie depicted the exact meaning of the term: ritual of preparing the deceased conducted In front of grieving family members. This complex process involves an almost radicalized washing, meticulous grooming and careful disrobing and clothing, once more, of the deceased. All this done while exposing a little or no skin to preserve the dignity of the dead. The disposition or conclusion of this movie is my favorite, when Mike, Adagios wife, returned after a few months with the news that she was pregnant, hoping her unsound would change Into another Jon. But, seen was addle to accept near anacondas reversion when she handedly witnessed the Job Adagio had. She stood, an inspector of her husband as he groomed a family friend and an owner of the bath house. It also dishearten me because the owner celebrated her last Christmas Just with a friend and not with her family. At the same time it made me angry with her son that always forced her to sell the bath house so that he can build a condominium on the spot. When his mother died he repented and said sorry to his mother, but it was already too late, cannot hear her forgiveness. But the most touching part was when Adagio saw his father for the last time. He remembered the forgotten face of his man, because he was still young when his father ran away with their waitress. He Just kept it himself how angry he was to his father. His mother was the only one who worked hard to raise him. But when he saw him again, he gained back his love for his father, especially when he notice the stone that the man were kept on his hands. The stone symbolizes their promises to each other but not granted, due to the reason his father ran away with another girl. Adagio, when he still young, he gave a small white stone and symbolizes how pure and loved his father He was the one who prepared his ether for his departure and forgave him for what he had done in the past. I really like this film. The plot was plausible and the theme was unique but appealing. It is a kind of film that depicts culture, life and also death. Acceptance, grieving and moving on. It also deliver the importance of time and relevance. That part of human ignorance and arrogance that we should avoid in order to neglect regret and to live life happily, contented and peacefully before death actually slaps us in face and gives of how we are more unfair than reality. Thus, I conclude that this film is actually a film worth watching and learning from.