Comments on: The myth of the “untouched” Amazon http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/ Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:28:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Robert http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-393367 Robert Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:10:41 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/#comment-393367 I don't know if you've read 1491 by Charles Mann, but it's an excellent book. He talks at length about both the specific example of the Amazon being a "new" forest and of various theories as to why societies might "regress" to hunter gatherer cultures. I don’t know if you’ve read 1491 by Charles Mann, but it’s an excellent book. He talks at length about both the specific example of the Amazon being a “new” forest and of various theories as to why societies might “regress” to hunter gatherer cultures.

]]> By: BJG http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-373424 BJG Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:14:32 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/#comment-373424 The daily mail isn't a spoof, but it is a pretty odious tabloid that spends a lot of time bashing immigrants. This kind of carry-on from them is not in the least suprising. The daily mail isn’t a spoof, but it is a pretty odious tabloid that spends a lot of time bashing immigrants. This kind of carry-on from them is not in the least suprising.

]]> By: Alexandre http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/comment-page-1/#comment-372499 Alexandre Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:12:02 +0000 http://savageminds.org/2008/06/02/the-myth-of-the-untouched-amazon/#comment-372499 Yes, the fact that cultural change goes in many directions (often at the same time) is one problem for this kind of perspective. But there are many other problems in the whole notion of "uncontacted tribes." Including the fact that groups do have contacts with one another (even if they never had contacts with "us"). And the fact that some of the most important aspects of culture have very little to do with technological development. A personal, knee-jerk reaction: I must admit, I have a very hard time understanding a piece such as this one: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1022822/Incredible-pictures-Earths-uncontacted-tribes-firing-bows-arrows.html I'm just very surprised that someone could write something like this in 21st Century UK. It looked like a spoof. Is Daily Mail the UK equivalent of The Onion? Though I don't usually like being snarky, I felt compelled to tease the article's author about his writing. I guess I should chastise myself. But I'm not Christian. Yes, the fact that cultural change goes in many directions (often at the same time) is one problem for this kind of perspective. But there are many other problems in the whole notion of “uncontacted tribes.” Including the fact that groups do have contacts with one another (even if they never had contacts with “us”). And the fact that some of the most important aspects of culture have very little to do with technological development.

A personal, knee-jerk reaction:
I must admit, I have a very hard time understanding a piece such as this one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1022822/Incredible-pictures-Earths-uncontacted-tribes-firing-bows-arrows.html
I’m just very surprised that someone could write something like this in 21st Century UK. It looked like a spoof. Is Daily Mail the UK equivalent of The Onion?
Though I don’t usually like being snarky, I felt compelled to tease the article’s author about his writing. I guess I should chastise myself. But I’m not Christian.

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