What is a good movie that ties into the teachings of Cultural Anthropology?

Question

Have an extra credit assignment whereas I can watch/discuss a movie with strong cultural anthropology ties. Looking for some options, thanks!

Answer 1

American History X with Edward Norton and Eddie Furlong

Answer 2

I talked about Krippendorff's Tribe in my intro class as an example of what anth'sts do not do.  There are all sorts of movies you can tie into cult'l anth'y, though much less actually about it.  I would suggest Bend It Like Beckham, for the way it tackles issues central to anth'y including class, ethnicity, sports in society, gender and sexuality, cultural traditions and change and so on in in the context of contemporary Britain.

Answer 3

I second N!ai: Story of a !Kung Woman, a really nice look at a !Kung woman, even though it is a little biased.

The Gods Must Be Crazy is an actual movie, not a documentary, that is about a bushman and his journey to return a coke bottle to where it came from.  You can catch some of the film makers' critiques about anthropology and colonialism as it relates to bushmen in the Kalihari.  Cool, fun movie that we watched in my Cultural Anthropology Through Film class.

Answer 4

Well in my Cultural Anthropology class we watched Krippendorf's Tribe. We had to discuss how the movies portray Anthropologist.  What was realistic as far as what was something an Anthropologist would really do and what was Hollywood. It was fun.

Answer 5

Clan of the Cave Bear - it's pretty good, but the book was way better.  See and read both.

Answer 6

You could also look at Paris Hilton  & Nicole Richie episodes across America, lololol

Answer 7

'The Black Robe' is a good movie, and it is available through netflix and blockbuster.  It has been a while since I saw it, but if I remember correctly it is about the travels of a Jesuit missionary in America, and his contact with the Native Americans.  It is an interesting movie that takes a look at cultures in contact, and what life may have been like for Native Americans at that time.  

I also remember watching a movie in my cultural anthropology class years ago called 'The Keepers of the Flute' (I think?).  It is a documentary about a tribe in Papua New Guinea, their customs, rituals, etc.  It is an extremely funny movie at times, and probably not appropriate for small children.   I try not to be ethnocentric, but I remember watching that movie and thinking... wow, that culture is crazy!  Of course they would probably think the same of us.  Good luck!

Answer 8

N!ai: Story of a !Kung Woman is about a woman who lived in a band structured nomadic society that becomes sedentry.  Among her fellow !Kung people, there grows greed, social/gender stratification and changes in rituals/values as they become more sedentry.  It reflects social organziation, colonial effects, marriage rituals, etc.

Also, "Guns, Germs, and Steel" inspects the idea that Western civilizations are predisposed to industrialized because they are ecologically advantaged. This explores the different aspects of social/political organization and presents a very ethnocentric view that progress=industrialization.