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- Fri Jun 03, 2016 1:13 pm
#26085
Passage Discussion
Paragraph One:
Western Visual anthropologists have long struggled with the issue of creating ethnographic films of indigenous cultures without imposing their own colonial perspective. Now, given the ubiquitous access to video equipment, many such people have recently become the documentarians themselves. The author closes the paragraph stating that anthropologists’ reactions have been mixed.
Paragraph Two:
James Weiner leads one group of anthropologists, who perceive the proliferation of video and television as yet another example of the West imposing its values on indigenous cultures. Video cameras, Weiner asserts, replace the genuine cultural and social differences within indigenous cultures with a superficial difference among electronic images. As such, the use of video cameras by indigenous people have significant cultural costs and do not, as other anthropologists claim, make for a more accurate and truthful depiction of the people.
Paragraph Three:
Faye Ginsburg is one of several anthropologists who argue that the mere use of video cameras does not necessarily require indigenous people to unwittingly adopt Western values. While Ginsburg concedes that video cameras, like other Western objects, have had an effect on indigenous cultures, she argues that the use of such technology can help preserve indigenous traditions that might otherwise be threatened by exposure to Western culture.
Paragraph Four:
The passage concludes by introducing the work of Terence Turner, an anthropologist whose research supports Ginsburg’s perspective. Turner studied the Kayapo people and found that they were able to use video cameras to capture ceremonial performances and record transactions. Further, Turner found that the Kayapo were able to bring their own aesthetic to the videos that they created, rather than merely adopting a Western approach.
VIEWSTAMP Analysis:
The passage presents three Viewpoints: 1) James Weiner and his faction, who argue that the use of video technology by indigenous people is an imposition of Western values; 2) Faye Ginsburg and her faction, who assert that indigenous people can use Western technology without necessarily adopting Western culture; and 3) Terence Turner, who argues that the use of video technology by the Kayapo people was not at odds with their culture.
Turner’s and Ginsburg’s perspectives are closely aligned, and the author appears to tacitly agree with them.
The Structure of the passage is as follows:
The two main Arguments presented in the passage are those of the Weiner faction, who believe that the use of video cameras cost the people the culture they are trying to record, and of the Ginsburg faction, who believe that the use of Western technology can be helpful without necessarily imposing Western values.
The Main Point of the passage is that while anthropologists are divided over the effects of video technology on indigenous peoples, there is evidence suggesting that the use of such technology is not inherently harmful to indigenous cultures. The author never overtly agrees with the Ginsburg faction; however, Turner’s findings clearly support Ginsburg’s conclusion, neither of which is disputed by the author.
Paragraph One:
Western Visual anthropologists have long struggled with the issue of creating ethnographic films of indigenous cultures without imposing their own colonial perspective. Now, given the ubiquitous access to video equipment, many such people have recently become the documentarians themselves. The author closes the paragraph stating that anthropologists’ reactions have been mixed.
Paragraph Two:
James Weiner leads one group of anthropologists, who perceive the proliferation of video and television as yet another example of the West imposing its values on indigenous cultures. Video cameras, Weiner asserts, replace the genuine cultural and social differences within indigenous cultures with a superficial difference among electronic images. As such, the use of video cameras by indigenous people have significant cultural costs and do not, as other anthropologists claim, make for a more accurate and truthful depiction of the people.
Paragraph Three:
Faye Ginsburg is one of several anthropologists who argue that the mere use of video cameras does not necessarily require indigenous people to unwittingly adopt Western values. While Ginsburg concedes that video cameras, like other Western objects, have had an effect on indigenous cultures, she argues that the use of such technology can help preserve indigenous traditions that might otherwise be threatened by exposure to Western culture.
Paragraph Four:
The passage concludes by introducing the work of Terence Turner, an anthropologist whose research supports Ginsburg’s perspective. Turner studied the Kayapo people and found that they were able to use video cameras to capture ceremonial performances and record transactions. Further, Turner found that the Kayapo were able to bring their own aesthetic to the videos that they created, rather than merely adopting a Western approach.
VIEWSTAMP Analysis:
The passage presents three Viewpoints: 1) James Weiner and his faction, who argue that the use of video technology by indigenous people is an imposition of Western values; 2) Faye Ginsburg and her faction, who assert that indigenous people can use Western technology without necessarily adopting Western culture; and 3) Terence Turner, who argues that the use of video technology by the Kayapo people was not at odds with their culture.
Turner’s and Ginsburg’s perspectives are closely aligned, and the author appears to tacitly agree with them.
The Structure of the passage is as follows:
- Paragraph One: Introduce the controversial use of video equipment by indigenous peoples documenting their own cultures.
Paragraph Two: Present James Weiner’s position, who disapproves of such use.
Paragraph Three: Outline an opposing view, shared by Faye Ginsburg and her fellow anthropologists.
Paragraph Four: Introduce Turner’s study of the Kayapo people, which appears to support the Ginsburg position.
The two main Arguments presented in the passage are those of the Weiner faction, who believe that the use of video cameras cost the people the culture they are trying to record, and of the Ginsburg faction, who believe that the use of Western technology can be helpful without necessarily imposing Western values.
The Main Point of the passage is that while anthropologists are divided over the effects of video technology on indigenous peoples, there is evidence suggesting that the use of such technology is not inherently harmful to indigenous cultures. The author never overtly agrees with the Ginsburg faction; however, Turner’s findings clearly support Ginsburg’s conclusion, neither of which is disputed by the author.