Kawkw Cannibal Dance: A Conceptual Analysis

People from different cultures don’t understand the world the same due to the way our brain is wired. We are seeking consistency as that is what eases our minds, and understanding that facts don’t have the power to change our views because we as humans hate to be wrong. Our opinions create our belief system which results in not always properly matching up with facts. We hate being in discomfort from being wrong so our brain is wired with cognitive shortcuts in order to avoid such encounters. There is also the idea that if someone has the same views on the world you are more prone to listen to them opposed to if they differ in views.

Symbolic actions are everyday traditions, actions, and the thought process that represent a deeper meaning of a culture that shapes views of the world. These everyday acts carry meaning that is able to be shown in public and give others an idea of a culture. The Kawkwaka’wakw Cannibal Dance is an example of symbolic actions that are publically displayed to show off their practices and deep beliefs within the culture. It is known as a youth's initiation into a Cannibal society and the end result is to control greed and conflict within the individual's
life. All humans are known to be cannibals and they must be tamed and socialized correctly according to this culture. During the initiation period, it is known that the parents are helping to transform their child from a cannibal into a human that has an understanding of gift giving and a tolerance for greed.

The water in my heart has fallen, or in the Khmer language, thleuk tuk chet is the representation of depression.
It was a metaphor that my aunts and mother used to describe my grandmother when she lost her husband and it was difficult to understand at a young age what such a metaphor meant. In the Khmer language, there isn’t a specific word for depression, it’s said that people in Cambodia don’t get depressed, but that’s simply not possible. Most metaphors are known to be connected to water because during the rainy season in Cambodia it rains constantly. Which why the saying, the water in my heart has fallen, represents depression to those living in Cambodia. Once the water has fallen all throughout your heart and beings to dry much like a dessert, you feel it’ll never be filled
again.

Through my own experiences with politics, I believe it’s simply not just because it was the way I was taught. My parents have never been ones to talk openly about politics with me growing up but due to where I lived, being around those with different vocabulary, and being aware of the others perception of experience I found myself surrounded by people with the same ideology. People are known to hold fast to their beliefs for many reasons regardless of evidence that may contradict them. Their beliefs are a representation of their culture, a part of the history, may be connected spiritually or to the faith. It is all comes down to not being able to admit you are wrong due to our brains being wired in such a way that creates shortcuts to cope with information. Suppressing evidence is the act of not acknowledging any facts that may disprove a belief system. Similar to that of selective perception, but a bias on what is physically seen and disregarding evidence that can be visually observed. Rationalize inconsistencies or secondary elaboration, is where one will attempt to explain the inconsistencies or any differing views of a belief.