Mead: Plus Alpha
11/09/10 13:46
Brittany
I looked up the word "surreptitious." In the context of the ethnography, it means a sneaky, stealthy action.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surreptitious
Laura
Matai -
"A matai title can be given to either men or women, although you will find far more men with titles than women. It is usually given to someone in acknowledgment for services that have been rendered. A family might give a title to a relation who has been able to support them through hard times or village might give a title to someone that has done something that has been of benefit to the village as a whole. However currently there appears to be a tendency to give a matai title to someone in order to receive favours in return, be they of a financial or other nature."
http://www.samoa.co.uk/matai.html
Emily
sonorous: deep sound, loud or full in sound
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sonorous
Bijal
I did not know why Mead kept using the term Don Juan. I learned that he was a fictional libertine that was known for seducing women. It is now a synonym for womanizer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Juan
Liz
Kava refers to both a plant of the Western pacific and a beverage that can be made from its roots. It is a non-addictive sedative that is used to relax and does not affect mental clarity. Its effects are commonly compared to the effects of alcohol because it causes effects within 20-30 minutes of consumption, which last for about two and a half hours but can be felt for up to eight hours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava
Stacey
getting a better understanding of the Samoan people... There are well over 300 hundred different Samoan villages. Everything is shared amongst each other which does not allow anyone to get ahead in life. This then poses another question... I don't know if that's a good thing or not because then what is the initiative to be a go getter? There isn't one. Also, can these traditions be broken at all? For example, the clothes they wear and they crafts they make?
I don't know if this helps but reading more on these people only made me ask more questions.
http://www.samoa.southpacific.org/samoa/villages.html
Tom
Kokomo-
Seeing the author write about Kokomo made me ask the question, is Kokomo, Indiana what the Beach Boys were talking about? It was actually not that easy to find but the Kokomo that the Beach Boys spoke of was in Montego Bay (which makes a lot more sense). According to cityofkokomo.org, Kokomo, Indiana is known as "the city of firsts" thanks to its automotive history. I think for now though, I'll plan a trip to better known Montego Bay Kokomo.
Mary
I was not sure what the Siva parties were that children meet at. I found out that the the Siva is the traditional Samoan dance. The female siva incorporated gentle movements with the hands and feel, going to the rhythm of the music.The traditional Samoan dance is the siva. The female siva incorporates gentle movements of the hands and feet in time to music. Dancing is viewed as unique to the Samoan culture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Samoa
Scott
Samoa is actually a chain of 16 islands, west of Australia, referred to today as the Samoan Islands. At the time of Mead's writing all the islands were colonized by western powers, particularly, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. Today, 10 of the islands are independent, but only 4 are inhabited. The 6 eastern islands (American Samoa) are still controlled by the United States.
Hannah
There was much controversy regarding the portion on sexual practices, girls that Mead had interviewed had come forward and said that they were "joking" and their culture was misrepresented in Coming of Age in Samoa.
Suzanne
Definition Taro Root
http://www.essortment.com/all/taroroottubers_relt.htm
I wanted to look up Taro since it was mentioned in the article because I have had it in bubble tea before and thought it was delicious. I found that the reason it tastes similar to a coconut is because they are related. It must have its skin removed before cooking since the skin is actually toxic but it is a great source of fiber and is easily digestible as well as very versatile.
Michelle
Plus Alpha Project – The Ifoga
Mead briefly described an Ifoga as “ceremonial humiliation before some on whose pardon is asked” (74). I decided to research this further, and found that it is not just for adultery, the situation in which Mead described it, but also for when physical harm is done from a member of one family to a different family, and that this concept also occurs in American Samoan communities. Also known at the “apology speech,” this public trial often brings a sense of unity to the “criminal’s” family, and is said to be a way to avoid court action and legal processes. It involves gift giving and delegation among a committee, and if the apology is accepted, the families eat a meal together.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/539779.pdf?acceptTC=true
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/gwilr10&div=11&id=&page=
Rebecca
"Where the parents of lower rank complacently ignore their daughers' experiements, the high chief guards his daughter's virginity as he guards the honour of his name, his precedence in the kava ceremony or another prerogative of his high degree" (70). I looked up the kava ceremony. According to http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_kava/index.htm (I googled kava ceremony, as I had no idea what specific online resources to search through), the kava is a drink. "Kava" literally translates to "bitter," and it appears to be an intoxicating brew. According to Wikipedia, the kava is served at ceremonies and is first given to the highest cheif of the visiting party and then served in order based on the subsequent ranks of the other guests. The ceremony is also "highly ritualized," and the drink is served in half of a coconut shell.
I looked up the word "surreptitious." In the context of the ethnography, it means a sneaky, stealthy action.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/surreptitious
Laura
Matai -
"A matai title can be given to either men or women, although you will find far more men with titles than women. It is usually given to someone in acknowledgment for services that have been rendered. A family might give a title to a relation who has been able to support them through hard times or village might give a title to someone that has done something that has been of benefit to the village as a whole. However currently there appears to be a tendency to give a matai title to someone in order to receive favours in return, be they of a financial or other nature."
http://www.samoa.co.uk/matai.html
Emily
sonorous: deep sound, loud or full in sound
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sonorous
Bijal
I did not know why Mead kept using the term Don Juan. I learned that he was a fictional libertine that was known for seducing women. It is now a synonym for womanizer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Juan
Liz
Kava refers to both a plant of the Western pacific and a beverage that can be made from its roots. It is a non-addictive sedative that is used to relax and does not affect mental clarity. Its effects are commonly compared to the effects of alcohol because it causes effects within 20-30 minutes of consumption, which last for about two and a half hours but can be felt for up to eight hours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava
Stacey
getting a better understanding of the Samoan people... There are well over 300 hundred different Samoan villages. Everything is shared amongst each other which does not allow anyone to get ahead in life. This then poses another question... I don't know if that's a good thing or not because then what is the initiative to be a go getter? There isn't one. Also, can these traditions be broken at all? For example, the clothes they wear and they crafts they make?
I don't know if this helps but reading more on these people only made me ask more questions.
http://www.samoa.southpacific.org/samoa/villages.html
Tom
Kokomo-
Seeing the author write about Kokomo made me ask the question, is Kokomo, Indiana what the Beach Boys were talking about? It was actually not that easy to find but the Kokomo that the Beach Boys spoke of was in Montego Bay (which makes a lot more sense). According to cityofkokomo.org, Kokomo, Indiana is known as "the city of firsts" thanks to its automotive history. I think for now though, I'll plan a trip to better known Montego Bay Kokomo.
Mary
I was not sure what the Siva parties were that children meet at. I found out that the the Siva is the traditional Samoan dance. The female siva incorporated gentle movements with the hands and feel, going to the rhythm of the music.The traditional Samoan dance is the siva. The female siva incorporates gentle movements of the hands and feet in time to music. Dancing is viewed as unique to the Samoan culture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Samoa
Scott
Samoa is actually a chain of 16 islands, west of Australia, referred to today as the Samoan Islands. At the time of Mead's writing all the islands were colonized by western powers, particularly, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. Today, 10 of the islands are independent, but only 4 are inhabited. The 6 eastern islands (American Samoa) are still controlled by the United States.
Hannah
There was much controversy regarding the portion on sexual practices, girls that Mead had interviewed had come forward and said that they were "joking" and their culture was misrepresented in Coming of Age in Samoa.
Suzanne
Definition Taro Root
http://www.essortment.com/all/taroroottubers_relt.htm
I wanted to look up Taro since it was mentioned in the article because I have had it in bubble tea before and thought it was delicious. I found that the reason it tastes similar to a coconut is because they are related. It must have its skin removed before cooking since the skin is actually toxic but it is a great source of fiber and is easily digestible as well as very versatile.
Michelle
Plus Alpha Project – The Ifoga
Mead briefly described an Ifoga as “ceremonial humiliation before some on whose pardon is asked” (74). I decided to research this further, and found that it is not just for adultery, the situation in which Mead described it, but also for when physical harm is done from a member of one family to a different family, and that this concept also occurs in American Samoan communities. Also known at the “apology speech,” this public trial often brings a sense of unity to the “criminal’s” family, and is said to be a way to avoid court action and legal processes. It involves gift giving and delegation among a committee, and if the apology is accepted, the families eat a meal together.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/539779.pdf?acceptTC=true
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/gwilr10&div=11&id=&page=
Rebecca
"Where the parents of lower rank complacently ignore their daughers' experiements, the high chief guards his daughter's virginity as he guards the honour of his name, his precedence in the kava ceremony or another prerogative of his high degree" (70). I looked up the kava ceremony. According to http://www.janeresture.com/oceania_kava/index.htm (I googled kava ceremony, as I had no idea what specific online resources to search through), the kava is a drink. "Kava" literally translates to "bitter," and it appears to be an intoxicating brew. According to Wikipedia, the kava is served at ceremonies and is first given to the highest cheif of the visiting party and then served in order based on the subsequent ranks of the other guests. The ceremony is also "highly ritualized," and the drink is served in half of a coconut shell.