Cultural Anthropology

Throughout Africa, democracy has long been touted as the cure for the continent's ongoing unrest. But can such a form of government flourish in countries where extreme poverty is the norm and violence is the chief tool of statecraft? Spanning the continent from Libya to South Africa, this program seeks to understand Africa's complex political situations, addressing the Big Man" syndrome and the one-party state, the destabilizing effects of armed conflict, the mismanagement of industry and natural resources, and strained relations with the industrialized world. (56 minutes)"

Who were the Anasazi? This program explores their mysterious civilization and its resonance today. Topics include an overview of the culture that vanished from the North American Southwest 700 years ago; the Cliff Palace Ruins which proved the existence of an ancient people spoken of in Pueblo and Navajo legends; the geography of the Anasazi civilization; spiritual symbols of the Anasazi, focusing on petroglyphs, pottery shards, and the kiva; the Anasazi creation story, including emergence from the underworld through the sipapu; the role of Chaco Canyon and migration routes along ancient roadways; and a look at present-day interest in the Anasazi and the Pueblo belief that their ancestors' spirits live on. A Discovery Channel Production. (26 minutes)

Prehistoric art often renders animals in spiritual, even divine, form-but primitive beast images can also reflect a degree of humanity. This program sifts through the complexity of the animal-god concept, identifying the place of the lion, the giraffe, the wolf, the elephant, and many other creatures in a wide range of myths and religions. With detailed observations of sculpture, carvings, and statuary-including Native American totem poles, European gargoyles and grotesques, and Egyptian mummies honoring the cat-headed goddess Ubasti-the video demonstrates an age-old interconnection between our reverence for nature and our need to determine our status in it. (53 minutes)

No one knows when Australia was first inhabited, but most experts agree on tens of thousands of years ago. This program provides a wealth of information on Australia's Aboriginal culture. Topics include an overview of the history of the Aboriginal peoples; facts and theories about Aboriginal origins; an introduction to the Anangu and Tiwi, two Aboriginal groups; the Aboriginal mythology of the Dreamtime, the primordial phase in which life arose; Aboriginal reverence for geological formations, including Uluru, or Great Pebble," and Kata Tjuta, or "Many Heads"; Tiwi spiritual beliefs expressed in art, music, and dance; the carving of decorative Pukumani, or Tiwi burial poles; and the secretive nature of Anangu death rituals. A Discovery Channel Production. (24 minutes)"

This program featuring sociocultural anthropologist James Eder-author of On the Road to Tribal Extinction-travels to the island of Palawan in the Philippines archipelago to document the Batak tribe's eco-friendly hunter/gatherer way of life. Repeatedly displaced by immigrants and increasingly driven to take part in the island's growing cash economy, the tenacious Batak struggle to maintain their cultural and spiritual identity while attempting to adapt to the modern world. Can conservationists, who approve of their sustainable methods of harvesting, help to secure the tribe's ancestral forest before it is all lost? Contains nudity. (50 minutes)

Houses of worship are designed around the beliefs and values of those who gather inside them. Carefully researched and conversational in style, this six-part series uses detailed location footage and animated models to examine the symbolism and historical meaning of sacred structures from six religions. Equally appropriate for introductory courses in architecture or religion. 6-part series, 25 minutes each.

Weaving a worldwide narrative of rites of passage, this program takes viewers into the lives of six children and adolescents, all of whom are undergoing critical stages in their transition to adulthood. Widely varying experiences from Russia, China, Malaysia, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, and Canada's Baffin Island produce a startling picture of the political, social, and economic issues that surround growing up. An Inuit boy's first hunt, a young Russian's involvement in a right-wing hate group, and an obligatory weeklong military boot camp for a 15-year-old Chinese girl-these and other stories show the differences and the unity of human development around the world. A BBCW Production. (60 minutes)

Grave robbers, scientists, and adventurers have all sifted through the treasures of ancient Egypt. As this program shows, the land still has much to teach us. Topics include an overview of Egyptian culture and the role of the Nile River; design and architecture of the Great Pyramids; the Pharaoh's relationship to his people and the gods; a look at some of Egypt's most famous landmarks, including the Sphinx; papyrus technology and hieroglyphics; ancient concepts of the soul, the afterlife, and the Sun God; Egyptian achievements in art, architecture, and science; the decline of pharaonic power and the abandonment of the pyramids; the advent of Islam; and the continuing allure of ancient Egyptian civilization. A Discovery Channel Production. (25 minutes)

This program documents the ritual of female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, practiced among some African groups; explores its roots in myth; and discusses movements under way to ban the practice. Interviews with anti-circumcision activists, including medical personnel, describe the health ramifications, including hemorrhage, infection, and painful sex. Victims discuss both the physical and emotional pain of circumcision, and both males and females discuss why they support or reject circumcision as a valid cultural practice. Graphic scenes of an actual female circumcision are shown. (40 minutes)

Deep inside the Brazilian and Ecuadorian rain forests, several indigenous tribes continue to live according to traditional customs-some violently defying outside influences. This program documents repeated attempts to pacify and often assimilate these vulnerable societies. Outlining the history of Amazonian colonization by Europeans, the film examines the work of researchers and activists such as Erwin Patzelt and the Villas Boas brothers, as well as the role of FUNAI, the impact of multinational corporations, and the influence of Christian missionaries. Viewers will learn extensive details about the Huaorani people, the Kampaere and Anticume Pata communities, and various Xingu tribes. Not available in French-speaking Canada. (52 minutes)

This program discusses the mixture of faiths that abound in Indianapolis, and the importance of sacred space to each denomination. Martin E. Marty, of the University of Chicago Divinity School, defines sacred space as a place where individuals experience a sense of the spiritual events relevant to their faith. Visiting several places of worship about the city, we learn how size, decoration (or lack of it), and location confirm the faith's place in history and express the cultural values of its members. (21 minutes)

Three major religions intersect in Jerusalem. Although prone to clashes, they also form a rich spiritual, cultural, and historical tapestry. This program guides viewers through the city's landscape and its profound meanings. Topics include an overview of the eight gates into the Old City; the sealed Mercy Gate; the bustling Damascus Gate; the Temple Mount and the significance of the Western Wall; the observance of rabbinic law, or halakha, of Orthodox Judaism; the Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the traditional site of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified; the Dome of the Rock; and the al-Aqsa Mosque's interior, including the site at which Muhammad is believed to have ascended into Heaven. A Discovery Channel Production. (26 minutes)

Filmed entirely on location, this four-part series shows how Islam has spread and flourished throughout Asia and Africa since the time of Muhammad. An excellent opportunity to balance out any Islamic studies collection currently weighted more toward the birth of Islam and the Ummayad and Abbasid caliphates. 4-part series, 47-52 minutes each.

In a remote corner of southwestern China are the Mosuo, arguably the best remaining example of a matrilineal society in the world today. In this program, anthropologist Chou Wah-Shan-one of few outside scholars who have lived and worked extensively with the Mosuo-and Mosuo villagers offer insights into what life is like in the 91 communities where women rule and husbands don't exist. Commerce, belief systems, rituals and festivals, and the day-to-day responsibilities of women and men are described, with a special focus on the concept of walking marriage." But tourism and technology are swiftly eroding core Mosuo customs and values. How much longer will the Mosuo way of life survive? (54 minutes)"

What is left of Africa's hunter-gatherers, and do they have a future? This program enters the lives of the San bushmen of the Kalahari and the Hadzabe people of Tanzania in a way that may soon become impossible. Examining their crafts and customs, the film studies intriguing methods of making fire, cooking, building huts, and crafting jewelry. Viewers will witness detailed preparations for a hunt, including close-ups of poison carefully applied to arrow-tips, as well as documentation of the expedition as it unfolds. The San and Hadzabe languages, with their fascinating variety of phonetic clicks, are recorded throughout. Archival footage and views of ancient rock art reinforce the history and prehistory of these vanishing societies. Not available in French-speaking Canada. (52 minutes)