Toulambis and the Westerners

Culture encompasses a wide range of behaviors, languages, foods, beliefs and traditions. It can be defined as the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. The video capturing the Toulambis tribe of New Guinea’s first encounter with Westerners clearly portrays the fear, confusion, and amazement of the Toulambis as they not only encounter new person but a small part of a new culture.

One thing that the Westerners introduced to the tribe was some of the Western Material Culture. Material Culture refers to tangible objects as an item that have been manufactured, invented, created or borrowed within a particular cultural setting. The presence of the video camera was a shock to the Toulambis as they simply stared at the lens as the person was filming. The photography camera, mirror and the voice recorder were also examples of the introduction of Western Material Culture to the Toulambis people. They seemed to be amazed yet a little afraid of the existence of these items. This was very evident when one of the Toulambis covered the mirror with a leaf then slowly pulled the leave back to reveal the mirror in which the image of himself made him jump. A similar reaction occurred after a Toulambis man recorded himself singing and the Westerner played back his voice. While these items were fascinating to the Toulambis, it was evident that the westerners considered the cultural relativism of the Toulambis tribe. Cultural Relativism involves evaluating another group or culture by its own standards and not by the standards of ones own group or culture. The Westerners did not bring items such as clothing or hairbrushes to share with the Toulambis who obviously have their own definitions of what is appropriate in how they look or dress for example, all members of the tribe, both male and female were topless. The Westerners showed that they understood the Toulambis have their own way of doing things and did not try to change that based on what they may have believed is right. The Westerners even displayed some of their folkways upon first meeting the Toulambis. The Westerners reached out their hands to shake the hands of the Toulambis men who at first in return shied away. Folkways are beliefs, practices, or customs that we associate with the mundane aspects of social life. A gesture such as a handshake that seems so universal and normal proved to be something out of the ordinary to the Toulambis.

Culture Shock, which occurs because we are trying to make sense of the new environment, beliefs, values, and even food, odors and colors, was extremely evident from the reactions of the Toulambis. The Toulambis experienced multiple waves of culture shock from the very beginning of the video to the end. The difference between the colors of the skin of the Westerners compared to that of the Toulambis caused the men to try and avoid touching the Westerners. When the Toulambis began to get more comfortable they began to rub the skin and hair of the Westerners in disbelief. Another moment of culture shock occurred when the Westerners shared their rice with the tribe. At first, a Toulambis man spit it out immediately but then he, and others, began to enjoy the taste. While enjoying the rice, the Toulambis would eat it and then gently tap their own heads with a closed hand. This gesture seemed to be a part of the non-material culture of the Toulambis tribe. Non-material culture includes the aspects of culture that we cannot access directly with our senses. They are intangible and may be something as mundane as a social norm or as deep and meaningful as religious beliefs. It seems as if that gesture meant that the food was good or at least safe to eat and it seemed as if this was a normal or universal action in their tribe.

The contrast between the Toulambis and the Westerners, in their actions, gestures, appearances and possessions displayed just how much culture can vary from place to place. The film clearly depicted how different we can all be from each other while also displaying how we all have something to offer.