"Ophelia Was the Rebel Girl..."

[psalm_onethirtyone]

Have been studying anthropology this semester, and have noticed two overwhelming attitudes in this field, at least as far as our teacher (who shares said attitudes) has chosen to expose to us:

First, dramatic fatphobia--the number of articles we've read in which cultures are praised because the people in them are skinny, or the devastating effects of white influence were summed up with "AND THEN PEOPLE GOT FAT OH NOES" is really squicky to me. Really? Really? Moreover, there is a definite trend of 'and all European societies are evil because they eat processed food and have bad teeth and teh fat'. I will grant that processed food is bad for you, but I think that making a value judgement about a culture based on the food they eat is really ridiculous. I don't think anyone I know is a bad person for eating at McDonald's, even though I think the food from McDonald's is disgusting. The plain fact is you are not what you eat, and the implication that Europeans brought processed food to various tribal peoples and TURNED THEM FAT OHGOD is just. What.

(please note that I'm not endorsing the idea that European culture has deeply influenced tribal culture and caused tribal cultures to change significantly, including in their eating. Again, I just don't think this tone of disdain towards European culture for their food choices is appropriate.)

Second, romanticism of band cultures. Our professor is hardcore in love with band societies, and basically spends ridiculous quantities of time talking about how much better they are than any other society, and some of our readings have definitely enforced this point of view. Once again, cultures are cultures. They have good and bad aspects, but you can't really assign value judgements to them as a whole. They just are.

Plus she (and, again, some of the texts) are just so in love with the idea that tribal peoples are more innocent and natural and attuned to the earth that some days it is like sitting in on an hour of James Cameron's Avatar at goddamn eight in the morning, and I am just not okay with that.

And if I sound touchy about this, it's because yesterday I had to listen to an hour-long lecture about how we all suck because of what we eat. YOU TERRIBLE PEOPLE AND YOUR SATURATED FATS. Goddammit I'll be in my corner with my chickens and my piggies and my screw you.

Anyway, has anyone else experienced this in anthropology? FWIW, there was a large focus on Maori people and how European New Zealanders corrupted them with cavities.

Comments

[tiamatschild.livejournal.com]

Drat. That's a smaller anthropology dept. than I thought.

*huuuuuuugs you*

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

We are a very tiny college, most of the departments are very small.

[tiamatschild.livejournal.com]

A department of one is definitely small. Could you talk to an advisor about it? Someone who might have options for you? I ask because, as I say, I have done the Prof who keeps hitting major issues thing, and it. Yes. I am a protective Nanni!

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I'm not sure whether there's any way to avoid it, frankly, but I only have this class and another required with her.

[tiamatschild.livejournal.com]

*huuugs* Which is something, at least. I do hope you'll bring your concerns to someone, sweetie. They might have ideas.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

It just feels so personal and stupid (which is the reason I haven't reported my bike vandalised yet either, ugh, I need to do that). I always feel like these things are my personal issue and I just need to suck it up.

[tiamatschild.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. I find it so hard to stand up for myself a lot of the time! I think that I just need to be braver, or I'm oversensitive, or I'm just being silly, or no one will believe me. I don't trust my own perceptions. But when other people behave badly, like with the bike, or this professor, the truth is that it isn't your issue. It might hit you a little harder because of your personal issues, but it is their problem, and their anti-social behavior patterns are going to be affecting more people than just you.

*huuuuuuuuuuuugsyou* Which doesn't mean you need to take care of everyone else. But when people's behavior hurts you, it's valid that you're hurt. You don't have to just take it. You deserve to be safe, too. *cuddlesupto*

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

*leans on* Externalising things is so hard. Makes me tired.

[tiamatschild.livejournal.com]

*snuggles* It totally is. I completely agree.