Whitemen By Ira Bashkow Summary
Mohamed Faal II
Understanding Cultures
Book Review
11/18/13
The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become. Conversely, the absolute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into the heights, take leave of the earth and his earthly being, and become only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant. What then shall we choose? Weight or lightness? (Bashkow, 64). Ira Bashkow brilliantly captures what it means to be an Orakaiva from Papa New Guinea in his book, The Meaning of Whitemen: Race & Modernity in the Orokaiva Cultural World. As a response to the influences of post-colonialism, globalization, and modernity, the Orakaiva have constructed …show more content…
Bashkow suggests that spatial distance is not a neutral dimension, but rather a real obstacle that takes great effort to overcome for the Orakaiva (Bashkow, 72). However with modern technology and the influence of globalization, whitemen have somehow managed to maintain a lightness (in terms of earthly responsibilities) and are able travel vast distances at such ease. This becomes especially troublesome for the Orakaiva to grasp, considering their primary method of travel is on foot. Furthermore, clothing, is often times an indication of the moral divide between the Orakaiva and whitemen. Orakaiva dress very simply. Often times this means a loose shirt and pants with no support on the feet (Bashkow 101). Whitemen, in contrast, are completely covered and possess various gadgets like watches which represent a dependence technologies unbounded by social relationships. Lastly, Bashkow spends a substantial amount of time discussing how money plays a profound role in the society of whitemen but does not exist amongst the Orokaiva. The Orakaiva believe the concept of money is worthless and reinforces fundamental disconnect between whitemen and the Earth (reality). Whitemen, as Bashkow explains, are extremely reliant on money to settle their debts and facilitate their success and happiness. The Orakaiva on the other hand, seek the same outcomes through …show more content…
With the emergence of new corporations in Papa New Guinea, such as Oil palm businesses, many Orakaiva are faced with an identity crisis between traditional values and economic incentives provided by modernity. Bashkow explains that such projects like these are attracting people to grow oil palms for the sake of economic value rather than managing tarrow or pigs for means of trade and reciprocity (Bashkow, 237). This sense of identity crisis is especially evident amongst young adults of both genders who have accepted globalization (and its ties to economic transactions) as a progressive
Understanding Cultures
Book Review
11/18/13
The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become. Conversely, the absolute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into the heights, take leave of the earth and his earthly being, and become only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant. What then shall we choose? Weight or lightness? (Bashkow, 64). Ira Bashkow brilliantly captures what it means to be an Orakaiva from Papa New Guinea in his book, The Meaning of Whitemen: Race & Modernity in the Orokaiva Cultural World. As a response to the influences of post-colonialism, globalization, and modernity, the Orakaiva have constructed …show more content…
Bashkow suggests that spatial distance is not a neutral dimension, but rather a real obstacle that takes great effort to overcome for the Orakaiva (Bashkow, 72). However with modern technology and the influence of globalization, whitemen have somehow managed to maintain a lightness (in terms of earthly responsibilities) and are able travel vast distances at such ease. This becomes especially troublesome for the Orakaiva to grasp, considering their primary method of travel is on foot. Furthermore, clothing, is often times an indication of the moral divide between the Orakaiva and whitemen. Orakaiva dress very simply. Often times this means a loose shirt and pants with no support on the feet (Bashkow 101). Whitemen, in contrast, are completely covered and possess various gadgets like watches which represent a dependence technologies unbounded by social relationships. Lastly, Bashkow spends a substantial amount of time discussing how money plays a profound role in the society of whitemen but does not exist amongst the Orokaiva. The Orakaiva believe the concept of money is worthless and reinforces fundamental disconnect between whitemen and the Earth (reality). Whitemen, as Bashkow explains, are extremely reliant on money to settle their debts and facilitate their success and happiness. The Orakaiva on the other hand, seek the same outcomes through …show more content…
With the emergence of new corporations in Papa New Guinea, such as Oil palm businesses, many Orakaiva are faced with an identity crisis between traditional values and economic incentives provided by modernity. Bashkow explains that such projects like these are attracting people to grow oil palms for the sake of economic value rather than managing tarrow or pigs for means of trade and reciprocity (Bashkow, 237). This sense of identity crisis is especially evident amongst young adults of both genders who have accepted globalization (and its ties to economic transactions) as a progressive