Internet Exercises

Internet Exercises

1. Western Samoa: Read Richard Goodman's accounts of visiting Western Samoa (http://www.merriewood.com/pacific/wsamoa1.html).
   1. How do you characterize the Samoan diet? How do they procure those resources?
   2. What status differences exist in Samoan society? How important are titles?
   3. What are the differences in social roles between men and women?
   4. What kinds of arts are produced in Samoa? What significance does the art have?
   5. Goodman says that the Samoans are extremely communal. What does he mean?
   6. The textbook argues that all aspects of culture are interconnected. In what ways are the aspects of Samoan culture (economy, social organization, art, status, religion, etc.) interconnected?
      
      
2. Insults in any Language: Read the article entitled "Herb Caen's Samoan Waterloo" at http://www.merriewood.com/pacific/caen.html.
   1. What caused the Samoan community to feel insulted?
   2. What are the worst insults in your own culture? Do they involve animals, like for the Samoans?
   3. What steps did Caen have to take to apologize? How was that culturally relevant?
   4. This is an example of one problem that can arise when two cultures come into contact. What are some others?