Romanticizing the past
Oct. 14th, 2004 09:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
twilight33Why is it that lately I'm only inspired to write in here after class?
It honestly surprised me that so many people tonight were very bothered by the fact that some native communities in the PNW had slaves, thinking they were 'above that' or other such perceptions. I'll admit I was surprised initially because I didn't see an apparent need for slaves based on my own perception of the area (food was abundant, no complex architecture or agricultural crops requiring massive manpower, etc.) but wasn't shocked. We have to write two questions or comments and turn them in on an index card & discuss one of them in class, and many were about slavery & the hierarchy/ranking system. My comment was about the writer of the article labeling traits regarding family identity (crests, totems, etc.) as 'peculiar' & wondering if that was a common perception among North American anthropologists or just this guy. I was glad to learn it was just that guy, damned Canadians ;)
Then again, I'm not so sure I would be in this non-shocked position had I not already had the previous two classes. Which am I enjoying more; what I'm actually learning from the course, or studying people's perceptions and reactions to the readings?
In other news, JCAHO still sucks but at least the whole mess will be done with tomorrow even though we won't be in full compliance. My name & number isn't next to the names of those who slacked off, their managers can deal with the wrath! Preschool resolved itself well, as I suspected there was a misconception about roles. Now that they've been clarified, there hopefully won't be any more problems & I can have a stress-free Tuesday dropoff experience.
It honestly surprised me that so many people tonight were very bothered by the fact that some native communities in the PNW had slaves, thinking they were 'above that' or other such perceptions. I'll admit I was surprised initially because I didn't see an apparent need for slaves based on my own perception of the area (food was abundant, no complex architecture or agricultural crops requiring massive manpower, etc.) but wasn't shocked. We have to write two questions or comments and turn them in on an index card & discuss one of them in class, and many were about slavery & the hierarchy/ranking system. My comment was about the writer of the article labeling traits regarding family identity (crests, totems, etc.) as 'peculiar' & wondering if that was a common perception among North American anthropologists or just this guy. I was glad to learn it was just that guy, damned Canadians ;)
Then again, I'm not so sure I would be in this non-shocked position had I not already had the previous two classes. Which am I enjoying more; what I'm actually learning from the course, or studying people's perceptions and reactions to the readings?
In other news, JCAHO still sucks but at least the whole mess will be done with tomorrow even though we won't be in full compliance. My name & number isn't next to the names of those who slacked off, their managers can deal with the wrath! Preschool resolved itself well, as I suspected there was a misconception about roles. Now that they've been clarified, there hopefully won't be any more problems & I can have a stress-free Tuesday dropoff experience.
