Check out the site of Schlegel: Wisdom from a Rainforest: The Spiritual Journey of an Anthropologist Web Site http://www.rainforestwisdom.com/index.html

For general links relevant to the course, see
Index of Native American Resources http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/
Links to Aboriginal Resources http://www.bloorstreet.com/300block/aborl.htm
Native American Images http://www.nativeamericanlinks.com/
Native Web http://www.nativeweb.org 

Webservation for A107 Students

 

• GUIDELINES FOR WEBSITE ANALYSIS: In doing this critique, keep in mind the following points:

• What can you learn about the person or group that put the site together? Are the names of the writers or creators indicated and do they solicit feedback? Are you able to tell if it is a reputable person or mainstream organization?
• Who is the site directed to? Is it trying to convert you to an idea? Do you think it has a commercial interest (trying to get money from you)?
•What do you find the most useful aspect of the site? How user-friendly is it?
• From your perspective, do you find any bias, misleading or erroneous information on the site? Do you find information that contradicts or confirms what you have learned in class? If so, what is the response of the site webmasters if you are able to send your comments or criticism?

• GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN WEBSERVATION

Purpose: To critically examine how you are influenced by presentation of material about indigenous peoples and development on websites. You should first look at the guidelines for website analysis (above) and discuss how the nature of the website and its format influence your reception of the message on the site.
In order to fulfill the criteria for this assignment, I suggest the following:

• Do not just list content or information about indigenous peoples as presented on the site. This is neither a term paper nor a descriptive summary of the contents. Be as clear and concise as you can; the idea is to develop your points and not to list descriptive information.
• Find something specific on the site that relates to the course material or discussion. Discuss what you find and relate it directly to examples from the course. Use at least 5 examples from the pool of websites.
•. Discuss in detail how you are influenced by the site in terms of who put it out, who it is directed to, its user-friendliness and any perceived bias. For this you need to determine the source of the webpage assigned and try to figure out the starting assumptions and “biases” of those putting out the site.
• You should act like an anthropologist approaching a “foreign” culture to understand it rather than to judge it.
• This is a brief essay (like an op-ed piece) arguing a point. You do not need to reference the websites I assigned, but do indicate the new website you add. You should only use a quote if you are directly commenting on it.

LENGTH: 5-6 pages (1250-1500 words),
Draft due: no later than 11/25. This must be hard copy. I will provide comments for revision and try to return this as soon as possible.
Final Paper due: 12/12/08
GRADING: 14 points: 1 (adequate) or 2 (impressive) points:

a. demonstration that the information presented is understood
b. use of relevant and appropriate examples from the course
c. shows an awareness of anthropological views on indigenous peoples
d. ability to synthesize rather than merely repeat or describe
e. effective critical engagement with website format and presentation
f. effective critical analysis of relevant website content
g. Coherent argument and clear presentation of points

 

Webservation Options

INSTRUCTIONS: Do both parts 1 and 2, as described.

1. Based on the course readings that discuss stereotyping of natives (especially the book edited by Michael Katakis), examine the following websites. Compare and contrast the ways in which these websites either present or criticize stereotypes of natives as inferior, violent or ignorant. Find at least three specific examples that illustrate specific stereotypes and three specific criticisms of stereotypes. It is important to explain how you are influenced by the website (as noted in the guidelines above):

• Christopher Columbus: A Legacy of Destruction? http://www.thebahamasguide.com/facts/columbus-controversy.htm

• METHODIST CHURCH DECLARES CHIEF WAHOO WILL CONTINUE THEIR MISSION TO THE INDIANS http://www.iwchildren.org/methwaho.htm

• POLITICAL CARICATURES OF THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM http://library.kcc.hawaii.edu/~soma/cartoons/

• Stereotype of the Month Contest http://www.bluecorncomics.com/stertype.htm

• The Outsiders' View http://www.survival-international.org/campaigns/uncontactedtribes/outsidersview

2. Pick one of the following two options (A or B) below and explain how the entire group of sites listed influences your views, either positively or negatively, on the legitimacy of missionary work among native peoples. You are welcome to say what you personally think about the issue, but you must show how each site influences your view. Try to find out who put the sites out (e.g., by going back to the home page of the website). Make sure you look over the website and not just one page. It is important to show how what you have learned in this course influences the way you look at the sites. [You will not be graded on your opinion, but on your ability to show why you think the way you do, based on what you are learning in the course.]

Option A: After reading the course materials about the role of missionaries and seeing the film "At Play in the Fields of the Lord," examine these websites by missionaries to natives of the Amazon.

• Comings Communique http://www.comingstobrazil.com/blog/

• Amazon Mission http://www.amazon-mission.org/index.php

• Faith Comes by Hearing http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/audio-bibles-reach-amazon-tribe

• Free Will Baptist International Missions http://www.brazilfwb.org.br/ Note: The original site here has gone down. You can use the following replacement if you like: http://www.fwbgo.com/Missionaries/world_list.cgi?t=2&country=1

• New Tribes Mission http://www.ntm.org

Option B: After reading the course materials about the role of missionaries and Schlegel, examine these websites by missionaries to natives of the Philippines and other parts of Asia.

• Explore Papua New Guinea http://www.ntm.org/png/?from=explore

• Jon, Kristi, and Hudson Mason http://www.masonmission.com/

• Missionary Bob Carpenter http://www.missionarybobcarpenter.com/About_Us.html

• The Philippine Jesuits http://www.jesuits.ph/

• 10/40 Window: Do you need to be stirred to action? http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/1040.htm