A student you know has taken an anthropology course in which one of the readings was
Beth Conklin’s essay on ritual cannibalism among the Wari’ Indians of western Brazil. After
giving the matter considerable thought, she/he has come to the conclusion that exposing
western students to this kind of material is actually counter-productive in relation to the aims
of anthropology, as it mostly has the effect of promoting racism and unhelpful stereotypes
of primitive or tribal peoples. In coming to this conclusion, the student was partly influenced
by a survey done some years ago on the effects of films about the Yanomamö, another South
American people. The films showed Yanomamö men waging war, taking hallucinogenic drugs
as part of shamanistic rites, and beating their wives. The research suggested that exposure to such
films often tends to confirm the prejudicial attitudes many westerners have towards non-western
peoples. (Note: This is not fictional; there actually was such a study). In the student’s opinion,
therefore, articles like Conklin’s should not be used in undergraduate courses, or at least not in
introductory courses like 207.
State whether, or to what extent, you agree or disagree with the student, and justify your
position with reference both to the article and to more general concepts, ideas, and approaches
covered in the course. (Particularly if you disagree you may, if you wish, write your answer in
the form of a letter to the student.)
