Jesse Paner
Anthropology through Film
2/25/17
In his article, Reciprocity and the Power of Giving, Lee Cronk discusses the different cultural meanings placed upon the act of gift giving. The act of exchanging of gifts has many unique implications, which are based on the culture of the giver and the recipient. Cronk discusses the idea of reciprocity, which is the expectance of exchange associated with gift giving. Cronk brings up the example of “Indian Gifts” which was a term that white settlers connected to the Native American people’s expectation of receiving an equivalent gift after being given one. This expectation is rooted into the culture of the Native American people, which was misunderstood by the settlers. The real implication of
…show more content…
Rather than observing the action, it is important to observe the motives behind the act. By understanding the emotions of the actor, we are then able to gain a greater understanding of the act and the culture that influenced the actor. While reading this article I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences in gift giving. I love giving gifts, for a long time I tried so hard to give my closest friends the best gifts possible. Not only would I try to give them an object or trinket that they wanted, I would also try to make the experience of opening the gift as memorable as possible. I would make gift boxes that were filled with balloons or boxes that would shoot confetti once opened. I did all this because I thought I was doing it for my friends but after reelecting about it, I realized that I did it for my own benefit. I did all of these elaborate gifts with the intention of making myself seem artistic and amazing in my friends eyes. This correlates to what Cronk wrote about in this article because it shows that no act is done without an expectance of reciprocity. I initially believed that I was doing something out of kindness but it seems as though I was also doing it receive gratitude and
Beginning in the sixteenth century, Europeans made the voyage to a “new world” in order to achieve dreams of opportunity and riches. In this other world the Europeans came upon another people, which naturally led to a cultural exchange between different groups of people. Although we commonly refer to European and Indian relations as being between just two very different groups of people, it is important to recognize this is not entirely true. Although the settlers of the new world are singularly referred to as Europeans, each group of people came from a different nation and with different motives and expectations of the new world. Similarly, the Indians were neither a united group nor necessarily friendly with each other. Due to the
From 1778 the Unites States government attempted to resolve an already tense relationship with numerous native tribes. These treaties were between two sovereign nations and negotiated as such since almost no Indian nations held anything resembling a dictatorships, the United States took it upon themselves to appoint the chiefs with whom they deemed worthy of negotiating. The appointed leaders tended to be more agreeable to American interests rather than their specific tribe as the now found themselves on the U.S payroll. These treaties would then divide their lands and limit their necessarily resources in exchange for trade good and forgotten promises of annual payments and no further demands or regulations would be placed upon them. These formal
In the last five to six centuries, Native Americans have somewhat become nonexistent. They have been stripped of their ethnic identity along with their unwanted belongings. The impact of the acculturation are: manners, morals and habits of the European
This paper tries to explain Jack Weatherford's Indian Givers by examining the history of the Native American connection to many agricultural products would not have been produced without the knowledge that Indians gave. Weatherford further stipulates that it is through these advances in agriculture that the United States has remained a strong contender in the global market, that without the influences of the Native Americans on the early settlers those early immigrants to America would not have survived. Through his work, "Indian Givers: How Indians of the Americas Transformed the World", Weatherford brings an insight to a people that most
Europeans tore through America in the 1700s and destroyed the lives of Native Americans, and yet their culture remained principled with a high level of respect and honor. This is shown in a meeting that was held by the six nations of the Iroquois, where Chief Red Jacket gave a speech on the Native Americans view on missionary stations that the Europeans wanted to set up. Red Jacket explained their past with the first settlers, “We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return” (1). These first Europeans set the tone for how these new colonist treated the natives. They took what they wanted and left a trail of death and destruction in their path. However, the natives acted in return with upstanding respect and treated these missionaries
The French relationship with First Nations has been a dominate factor in Canadian history. Their successful means in establishing such relations led them to great achievements and downfalls. This relationship was successfully earned by the French for a variety of reasons. One, the First Nations, already in awe of European culture, were eager to trade due to their further fascination of European items (232). More specifically, they desired basic European goods such as “…knives, hatchets, kettles, beads, cloth and, eventually, the firearms of the French (5). Unlike the English, the French seized greater advantage of First Nations cooperation by demonstrating acts of tolerance and respect (8). The efforts of Samuel de Champlain, who formed “The Order of Good Cheer” to increase friendly relations, highlights this sentiment (1.3). To further impress them, the French utilized the practice of gift giving, a tradition they discovered in Brazil (1.3). One other essential factor in establishing relations was partly due to intermarriages between both
The main point in both texts is that everything that is offered needs to be returned with something of equal or greater value. In Mauss’s text, he focuses on how humans have typically been obligated to give, receive and reciprocate gifts. He uses examples of the competitive gift-giving of the Northwest Native-Americans, the obligatory gift-giving of Polynesian cultures, and the religious gift-giving of the Eskimos to emphasize how this is one of the foundations of human culture. Lee’s text follows a similar strand. He argues that giving something means you will get something in return whether you want it or not. He showed this in his story, he gave ox got a lesson on humbleness. Together these texts show an interesting perspective on the concept
Regifting is rude, bad-mannered, impolite, disrespectful, boorish, and intrusive. If friends or family members, would like to give a present, they put a little part of their soul and warm relation in the gifts. They show care deeply. At times, the gift isn’t liked. Statistically, 40 percent of Americans agree about regifting. It is injurious and sad. Some people preferred the right present when it cost a lot of money. May be it is more prudent, if you take the time and buy a thoughtful and low-cost gift. Better, when we can return or exchange at the store our unlike gift. If you cannot return the unlike item, the gift has strong road to Goodwill where it can be bought by person who likes it.
Then, my excitement incited something that would be my demise. Instead of simply presenting the perfectly lovely piece of costume jewelry, my mind began to create a much more elaborate scenario that snowballed to catastrophe. When we got to our first hour study hall, I made a big deal of making certain that several people saw my ring. As they asked, I told them that my maternal grandfather was a full-blooded Native American (he actually was), and that he had given me this gorgeous piece of turquoise jewelry which I wanted to give to Laura Beth as thanks for her help and welcoming manner. As I had hoped, the class was impressed and I knew my status was immediately elevated in this new social group. All was well until one of the boys asked to see the ring. As he examined it, I heard an ominous snicker before he loudly announced, “Hey, Gina, is your grandpa’s name Chief Avon?” Naturally, I was mortified and began to cry and repent about fabricating the story. What is interesting is that from that time forward, the students were much more helpful and welcoming. That was the day that I learned a valuable lesson about lying and trying to impress other people. According to Segev, Shoham, and Ruvio (2013) found that being self-conscious can be positively related with gift giving in adolescence. Adolescents value peer relationships and may give gifts as a way to ensure that they have friends.
The act of reciprocity, the mutual act of giving and receiving; giving more than you are taking. A quote that really captures the true meaning of reciprocity is, “People gave with the expectation of taking and took with the expectation of giving” (Harris 1989). This is seen across many different cultures and time periods. Nevertheless, they are not all the same, and may not generate equivalent types of relationships, for social and personal value. In this essay we will look at two separate acts of reciprocity; how they work, and what they provide. First, a look into the Gebusi sister-exchange, and then into the Kawelka’s moka ceremony. Everyone desires connection, whether that be through friendships or sexual relations.
Franklin showed us in this essay the hospitality and politeness of the Indians. The word of an Indian, who said “if a man enters one of our cabin we dry him if he is wet, we warm him if he is cold, we allay his hunger and thirst; we demand nothing in return. And if I enter any home in Albany and ask for food or drink, they won’t give me anything without money in return” It just shows how different two cultures work, while existing one near each other and not have the chance to avoid the influence of the other society.
Robert Frost describes his love for the New England. The Gift Outright is a patriotic poem. This poem was composed in 1936 and published in 1941, a few months later the United States entered World War 2. In the poem The Gift Outright reveals his patriotic fervor and presents the history of his country since the days of colonialism. Frost uses metaphors, similes, naturalistic diction to address his love for his country and what the soldiers feel. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and free verse. There is sixteen lines in this poem. This sonnet follows the ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG. The sophisticated speaker manages the poetic elements to evoke the passion for his country and his and the soldiers’ feelings as a whole.
People have many good times and they need to remember those times. They take a photo or give some gifts. Gifts make people remember their good times with their friends. In my opinion, people remember their gifts for remembering their good times, remembering their close friends and for personal reasons.
The anthropology of gifts has been mostly studied in the context of non-Western cultures. The important roles of gift giving were highlighted by classical anthropologists such as Malinowski, Mauss and Levi-Strauss. They stressed the significance of reciprocity and obligation suggested in gift exchange and that gift giving is a one practice of material expression that integrates a society.
First, distributing gifts is a moment Madison thoroughly enjoys. At Christmas time she likes to hand out presents exceedingly more than actually receiving them. Whether she is getting a present for one of her four sisters or for a friend, she takes time deciding what she wants to buy them. This is because she cares. It is not merely an action that she does under obligation, but a choice that she finds joy in.