Can't Leave Ourselves Out...

In An Anthropologists Look at Ballet as a Form of Ethnic Dance, Joann Kealiinohomoku delves into the issue of ethnocentrism in the study of western practices, in particular Dance. In Cultural writings, you receive a feeling that pre-colonial societies exist statically in the third dimension; that time does not affect the bubble in which these societies operate. We excuse this as saying we are writing in of the ethnographic present, which removes the need to look at the evolution to and from that point. Reports continue in that tone into the defining point in comes the west; now writings stress the rapid changes occurring as if this is the first time any non-western society has ever had to evolve.

Kealiinohomoku highlights mental paradoxes in dance theory, starting with the comparison of primitive to primeval and the importance of clear definitions (one of the first things we struggled to do at the beginning of the semester with the idea of Art). Primeval is what used to be, something that we cannot directly study. Primitive is the idea that something is not highly evolved, and as such is a substitute for primeval. However, nothing is actually primitive because everything does evolve, just not in the same way. Primitive dance is an over generalization, treated as a monolithic wholes where multiple cultural traditions are lumped together despite more differences then similarities. These over generalizations result from outside experts discuss forms in which they are not. In dance, books are written in an “us” western dance- ballet in particular- and a “them” which is everything else grouped into ethnic or primitive dance. These writings express that the same rules that apply to everyone else don’t apply to you or that your ideas; that ballet can not be ethic, nothing so homely as that, as it has risen above its cultural roots to express “universal” ideal.  It is this idea that the article calls the “experts” out on. Ballet themes are directly related to European environment, language, beauty and life ideas.

         Ethno-aesthetics is as relevant when looking at our own culture so that we do not idealize one cultural tradition over another.  ”Nacirema” culture is presented as parody to highlight the importance of ethno-aesthetics, the biggest danger often being that without a cultural awareness as you can add meaning where there is none and miss what meaning there is. Researching the Nacirema forces us to view the “us” through the frame of the other.  Below is a description of an activity in which I participated in for four years.

Aqueous Subcultures of the Nacirema

This section documents one of the various subcultures that can be observed within the Nacirema’ populous.  This particular subgroup is referred to as Remmiws and Revids. Although the majority of the Nacirema embrace their land-based heritage, these particular people will spend the majority of their waking hours engaged in aquatic based activities. It is not uncommon for them to spend 2-6 hours daily in this saturated environment, often beginning and ending their days in the same aqueous activity.

            The location in which theses feats are performed takes the form of an enclosed lake or sea inlet.  The length is very perspicuously 25 or 50 yards, though the width and the depth are variable. If the lakes depth is adequate, a climbable tower or cliff will be constructed at the water’s edge, with platforms at five, seven and a half, and ten meters. Boards will then be added at 1and 3m, protruding over the water. These structures are used primarily by the Revids (whose specific activities we will address later). Remmiws use a smaller version of these towers, called Skcolbs, which are about 1m high and about 2m apart, located at the end of the 25 or 50 yards. The tops of these skcolbs are angled towards the liquid surface.

            When Remmiws get together, they begin their daily ceremony by standing on the skcolbs and bowing to the tranquil water. Gripping the front edge firmly they push off, launching themselves headlong into the lake in unison. Once submerged, they engage in one of the four specialized motions that have been passes on through the generations.  Newly ordained Remmiws are first taught a stylized “crawl” that propels them forward, performed both on the back and the stomach. Once sufficient mastery of these motions is possessed the Remmiws is taught the two more advanced motions. These are beautiful to behold when mastered, reminiscent of a frog or dolphin in their apparent mastery of this foreign environment.

            At times they are aided by the use of specialized tools, which appear to have the goal end of expediting their mastery. These include a tomb of a light substance reminiscent of some basalt which are held, two thin boards which are then strapped to the hands, and longer boards that are made to tightly sheath the feet.

            Some Remmiws will then specialize further and train to become a Revid, though it is not necessary for the Revid to be a master Remmiws. Revids climb the tall cliff-tower mentioned earlier, again salute the water, and then hurl themselves down from the height. While airborne the Revid sculpts their body into a number of fluid poses, stunning to the sight but with tragic consequences if executed erroneously.  Because of the height from which they hurl themselves, the lake surface can cause perennial damage to the body if not met properly according to Revid traditions.

            Other subgroups within the main group of Remmiws and Revids include the Olopretaw teams, the ice bear clan and the rogue depth dwelling Revids.

Having being a spectator to these acts of extremity, one might come to question what drives these people to perform such endeavors.  The answer seems to be religious. As we are well aware, life arose from the thalassic realm and only birds have yet to master the Aeolian. Performing these ceremonies it seems they are attempting to get in touch with these realms. Remmiws reach back into the aqueous past for forgotten knowledge, while Revids push into the future for answers carried on the wind, which we do not yet grasp. Perhaps they carry the end goal of pushing their evolution into these environments. Regardless of the questions they leave in our minds, their acts hold a serine grace in their own right.