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Appeals to
Santiago This classic ethnographic documentary depicts an eight-day Maya "cargo" ceremony in Chiapas, Mexico. |
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Bahia: Africa in the
Americas Noted actor Brock Peters narrates this remarkable documentary that examines the African cultural traditions preserved by the people of Bahia in their music, dance, art, food, and, especially, their Candomble religion. |
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Before Reggae Hit
the Town This unusual documentary explores the African roots of music, religion, and dance in Jamaica. |
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Before We Knew Nothing
This unique film breaks new ground in the ethnographic documentary. It is a brilliant portrait of the life and culture of the Ashaninka, who inhabit the Amazon rainforest of eastern Peru, as well as a profound reflection on the experience of living and filming among people who continue to resist acculturation into the standards of the modern world. |
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Between Light and
Shadow: Maya Women in Transition This vibrant, wide-ranging documentary examines the impact on contemporary Maya culture of changes in the lives and expectations of Maya women in Guatemala. |
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Birth and Belief in
the Andes of Ecuador This intimate portrait of women in four Andean communities documents their beliefs and practices surrounding childbirth and infant care. |
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Carnival in Q'eros
This groundbreaking documentary shows the remarkable Carnival celebrations -- never before seen by outsiders -- of a remote community of Indians high in the Peruvian Andes. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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Cashing
in on Culture: Indigenous Communities and Tourism Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, and one of the most important forms of contemporary contact between different cultures. This insightful documentary, filmed in the small tropical forest community of Capirona, in Ecuador, serves as an incisive case study of the many issues and potential problems surrounding eco- and ethnic tourism. |
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The Chinampas This important documentary examines an ecologically sustainable system of agriculture that has flourished in Mexico for some 2,000 years. |
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Choqela: Only Interpretation This provocative and profound film documents the Choqela ceremony, an agricultural ritual and song of the Aymara Indians of Peru. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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Ch'ullacuy
Documents an ancient and important alpaca shearing ceremony that is still widely performed in the Andes. See also Three Films of the Andes. |
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Dancing with the
Incas This extraordinary film documents the most popular music of the Andes -- Huayno music -- and explores the lives of three Huayno musicians in a contemporary Peru torn between the military and the Shining Path guerrillas. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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Darkness into Light:
Semana Santa, San Miguel This dramatic documentary explores the complex, overlapping ritual events and pageantry of Easter week in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in the hills of Guanajuato, in central Mexico. It is an outstanding and thought-provoking case study of the relationships between religion and culture. |
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Daughters of Ixchel:
Maya Thread of Change This illuminating documentary explores the lives of Maya women today, portrays their ancient weaving processes, and examines the economic, political, and cultural forces that are profoundly affecting the women and their weaving. |
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Festive
Land: Carnaval in Bahia This engaging documentary examines one of the largest and most extraordinary popular celebrations in the world, the week-long Carnaval that brings more than two million people to the streets of Salvador, the capital of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil. |
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The
Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema John Cohen is one of America's pre-eminent documentary filmmakers. His films are particularly noted for their visual richness and their deep understanding of the links between culture, music, art, and religion. His six documentaries filmed in Peru have all been acclaimed by scholars and critics and they have all won awards and honors at festivals and academic conferences around the world. The six are Carnival in Q'eros, Choqela: Only Interpretation, Dancing with the Incas, Mountain Music of Peru, Peruvian Weaving, and Q'eros: The Shape of Survival. |
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The Five Suns: A Sacred
History of Mexico This new "artistic and intellectual triumph" is by Patricia Amlin, the extraordinary animator who created our widely honored and best-selling film, Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya. |
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The Forbidden Land
This informative and compelling documentary examines the growing divisions within the Catholic Church in Brazil and raises important questions about the role of the Church in the developing world. |
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Guadalupe,
Mother of all Mexico This groundbreaking documentary on Mexican popular culture explores the histories and miracles associated with the Virgin Mary as she is honored under the titles of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Remedies, Our Lady of Solitude, and Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos. |
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Hail Umbanda This unique, insider's view of Umbanda, the fastest-growing religion in Brazil, shows the cult's raucous pageantry and public festivals as well as its more esoteric, exotic, and rarely-seen ceremonies. |
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Hidden Scars
Torture has become a 20th-century epidemic -- a political epidemic, not a biological one. This powerful documentary examines this epidemic by profiling a Maya Indian who was falsely accused of collaborating with Guatemalan rebels, arrested, and tortured. |
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Huichol Sacred Pilgrimage
to Wirikuta This sensitive documentary follows the annual pilgrimage and peyote hunt of the Huichol Indians of western Mexico. |
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The Huichols The Huichols, who live in the western Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico, are best known for their peyote rituals, their shamanistic practices, and their colorful, intricate textiles. However, like many indigenous peoples, the Huichols have no written history; the continuation of their culture depends on the vitality of their oral traditions. |
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Invisible Indians:
Mixtec Farmworkers in California This important video provides an interdisciplinary look at the history, culture, and current social and economic conditions of the Mixtec people of Oaxaca, Mexico. |
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Jose Joaquin Salcedo:
The Multimedia Quixote This inspirational documentary recounts the work and achievements of Jose Joaquin Salcedo, a South American priest who some 50 years ago developed a pioneering radio-based multimedia system to educate children and adults in his native Colombia. |
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Kantik'i Maishi:
Songs of Sorghum This beautifully filmed documentary explores the harvest celebrations of Bonaire and Curacao, two islands in the Netherlands Antilles. |
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The Last Zapatista This remarkable documentary examines the profound and enduring legacy of Emiliano Zapata in contemporary Mexico. The film focuses on Emeterio Pantaleon, a 97-year-old Mexican farmer and one of the last living veterans who fought with Zapata during the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to 1920. |
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The Living Maya
This series documents life in a Yucatan village, focusing on one family over the course of a year. |
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Mas Fever: Inside
Trinidad Carnival Carnival in the New World is a synthesis of European elements -- Christian traditions and the masquerade -- and African elements -- primarily music and dance. |
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The Maya Pompeii About 1,400 years ago, a sudden volcanic eruption buried a Maya agricultural village, sealing off intact what has become one of the most important discoveries in the Americas. |
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A Month for the
Entertainment of Spirits This informative video examines the ceremonies of African-Guyanese who continue the African traditions of making contact with the spirit world. The video begins with a libation ceremony celebrating emancipation, performed by descendants of slaves to make contact with their ancestors. |
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Mountain Music
of Peru This classic documentary on the centuries-old music of the Andes demonstrates the importance or the region's musical heritage in preserving the cultural identity of the impoverished native peoples. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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Nakaj
Part ethnographic documentary and part hallucinatory fiction, this fascinating film vividly brings to life the mythical Andean nakaj, who attacks and kills unwary humans by stripping them of their fat. See also Three Films of the Andes. |
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The New Tijuana Luis Valdez narrates this eye-opening probe of booming Tijuana, Mexico, the West Coast's second largest city after Los Angeles. |
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Nomads of the Rainforest One of the great ethnographic films of the 1980s, this documentary records a multidisciplinary expedition to research the Waorani, a fierce and isolated Indian tribe that inhabits the Amazon rainforest. |
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Pancho Villa
and Other Stories This remarkable account of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and one of its most important and enigmatic protagonists, Francisco "Pancho" Villa, is a unique achievement in the realm of historical documentaries. |
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Peruvian Weaving
This classic documentary examines warp pattern weaving in Peru, an ancient Andean Indian tradition handed down from woman to woman for some 5,000 years. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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Popol Vuh: The Creation
Myth of the Maya This much-honored animated film employs authentic imagery from ancient Maya ceramics to create a riveting depiction of the Popol Vuh, the Maya creation myth and the foundation of most Native American religious, philosophical, and ethical beliefs. See also The Five Suns: A Sacred History of Mexico. |
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Q'eros: The Shape
of Survival An acclaimed depiction of the way of life of the Q'eros Indians of Peru, who have lived in the Andes for more than 3,000 years. See also The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema. |
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La Reina
del Barrio During the 40 days of Carnival in Montevideo, Uruguay, groups, called "murgas," of 18 to 20 men perform in open-air stages ("tablados") throughout the barrios of the city. Their shows, which combine song, drama, and comedy, satirize the main events of the year and are critical of Uruguayan politics and culture. |
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Roots, Thorns Filmmaker Diane Kitchen is creating a new, complex style of ethnographic film, one that is visually rich and conceptually thick, one that emphasizes intimacy, lyricism, metaphor, and sometimes startling images drawn from her subjects' daily lives. |
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Runa: Guardians
of the Forest The profound ecological knowledge of native peoples like the Runa - an Indian community in Amazonian Ecuador - offers hope for the future preservation of the rainforests. |
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Sacred Games Every year, in a small village in the highlands of Chiapas, in southern Mexico, thousands of Maya Indians gather to celebrate Carnival. |
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A Sheepherder's
Homecoming This widely acclaimed documentary is the first important film to explore the experience of a migrant worker returning to Mexico from the USA. With skillful artistry and ethnographic insight, the film provides a poignant and affecting human dimension to topics such as transnationalism and immigration, which are too often considered merely as abstract or statistical issues. |
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Taypi Kala: Six
Visions of Tiwanaku This highly original documentary follows five distinct cultural groups - tourists, U.S. archaeologists, urban Bolivian university students, a local Aymara family, and indigenous Aymara priests - who converge today at the monumental site of the ancient city of Tiwanaku, Bolivia. |
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Textiles in the
Southern Andes Explores the weaving traditions and techniques of Peru, whose textiles are famous throughout the world for their beauty and respected by specialists for the technical expertise exhibited in their weaving and dyeing. See also Three Films of the Andes. |
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Three
Films of the Andes This three-film series, all produced by Gabriela Martinez Escobar for Taruka Films of Peru, documents various aspects of Andean culture, ritual, and folklore. See Ch'ullacuy, Nakaj, and Textiles in the Southern Andes. |
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The Toured: The
Other Side of Tourism in Barbados Tourism is the second-largest industry in the world and the "touristic encounter" may be the most important contact front today between differing cultures. |
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Transnational Fiesta:
1992 Until recently, it was widely assumed that Native communities throughout the Americas would be absorbed into the mainstream or otherwise disappear. |
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Tremors in Guzman
This probing documentary visits Ciudad Guzman, a small Mexican city south of Guadalajara, to learn what everyday Mexicans think about the state of their country, its economy, and its political leaders. |
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Voices of the Orishas This innovative ethnographic documentary demonstrates the survival and strength of the Yoruba cultural and religious heritage in the contemporary life of Caribbean African-Hispanics. |
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Voices of
the Sierra Tarahumara This powerful and eye-opening documentary examines the plight of the indigenous Tarahumara people of northern Mexico, who are oppressed by criminal drug lords and and trapped in a web of rampant deforestation, crippling drug wars, and governmental corruption. |
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Voodoo and the Church
in Haiti Despite centuries of vigilant opposition from the Catholic Church, Voodoo has flourished in Haiti. |
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Watunna This stunning and universally acclaimed animated film depicts five stories from the creation myths of the Yekuana Indians who inhabit the Venezuelan rainforest. |
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Appeals to Santiago |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Carter Wilson This classic ethnographic documentary depicts
an eight-day Maya "cargo" ceremony in Chiapas, Mexico. The film
is narrated by the participants themselves and focuses on the experiences
of two men as they perform their expensive and exhausting duties for one
of the town's patron saints. Produced by Duane Metzger and Carter Wilson. |
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"Compares to the finest in ethnographic
films." -- John Collier, Jr., Prof. of Anthropology, San Francisco
State Univ. American Anthropological Assn. honoree American Film Festival Award |
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Bahia: Africa in the Americas |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Brewer Media Associates Located 1,000 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian state of Bahia is "the
capital of African culture in the Americas." Noted actor Brock Peters narrates
this remarkable documentary that examines the African cultural traditions preserved
by the people of Bahia in their music, dance, art, food, and, especially, their Candomble
religion. Excellent teaching notes by Prof. Sheila Walker, UC Berkeley. By Geovanni
and Michael Brewer. |
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An outstanding work that educates us about the richness of our culture. --
Ruth Batson, Dir., Museum of Afro-American History, Boston Natl. Educational Film Festival Award |
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Before Reggae Hit the Town |
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These titles are no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Mark Gorney 21 min. Color 1992 Catalog #38147 Sale: video $125, Rental: video $50 |
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Before We Knew Nothing |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Diane Kitchen This unique film breaks new ground in the ethnographic documentary. It is a brilliant
portrait of the life and culture of the Ashaninka, who inhabit the Amazon rainforest
of eastern Peru, as well as a profound reflection on the experience of living and
filming among people who continue to resist acculturation into the standards of the
modern world. The film reveals the activities of men and women, the lush tropical
environment, and the emotional climate of daily life. An exceptional aspect of the
film is its sensitive exploration of the role, activities, and feelings of Ashaninka
women. By Diane Kitchen. See also Roots, Thorns, by
the same filmmaker. |
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An absorbing achievement in ethnography. -- Prof. Steven G. Kellman, Univ.
of Texas at San Antonio American Anthropological Assn. selection Women in the Director's Chair honoree Film Arts Festival honoree Films de Femmes Festival (Creteil, France) honoree Uppsala (Sweden) Film Festival honoree CineFestival San Antonio honoree |
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Between Light and Shadow: Maya Women in Transition |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 27 min. Color 1997 Catalog #38398 Sale: video $175, Rental: video $50 |
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Beautifully conceived, captured, and crafted, this documentary is at once visually
appealing and thought-provoking. It focuses on Maya women, their art, and their changing
role in Guatemalan society, and allows the women to speak memorably of themselves,
their art, and their world. Through their voices the film also touches on such related
issues as ethnic identity, pride, and revitalization. I highly recommend it for introductory
classes in anthropology, women's studies, art, and Latin American studies. --
Prof. Richard Rinke, Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology, Champlain College Best Independent Documentary, Canadian Intl. Film Festival |
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Birth and Belief in the Andes of Ecuador |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Lauris McKee 28 min. Color 1995 Catalog #38329 Sale: video $175, Rental: video $50 |
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Anyone who thinks human birth is just runaway biology should see this film. It is excellent for bridging culture and biology in introductory anthropology courses, and would also complement medical anthropology and gender courses. -- Carol MacCormack, Prof. of Anthropology, Bryn Mawr College |
| Cashing in on Culture: Indigenous Communities and Tourism |
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| This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, and one of the most important forms of contemporary contact between different cultures. Eco-tourism and "ethnic" tourism, designed specifically to bring affluent and adventurous tourists into remote indigenous communities, are among the fastest-growing types of tourism worldwide. This insightful documentary, filmed in the small tropical forest community of Capirona, in Ecuador, serves as an incisive case study of the many issues and potential problems surrounding eco- and ethnic tourism. Those issues are shown to be simultaneously cultural, economic, and environmental, and are complexly intertwined for both indigenous communities and tourists. The film interweaves illuminating sequences featuring the Quechua-speaking Capirona Indians, Ecuadorian tour operators, anthropologists and other academics, and college-age American tourists to examine the benefits and negative costs of such tourism to everyone involved. The film focuses in particular on how tourism has changed the lives of members of the indigenous community, which took eight years to decide to admit tourists into their villages. The cash flow from tourism that is managed directly by the Indians bypasses the fees normally exacted by travel agencies and tour operators and may be able to sustain the community if revenues are distributed equitably. But how do indigenous communities, in the context of global tourism and business interests, set up and run successful tourist operations without compromising their own cultural traditions and despoiling their environment? "Cashing in on Culture" explores some of the most perplexing issues facing
indigenous communities and raises a multitude of thorny questions. The
film will generate discussion in a variety of courses in cultural anthropology,
development and Third-World issues, and Latin American studies. It was
produced by Prof. Regina Harrison, Univ. of Maryland. |
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"This film is perfect for teaching about the complexities and contradictions of globalization as experienced on the ground by indigenous people who are themselves cultural and political actors on a local and global stage. It will engage students profoundly in complicated questions which the film persuades you to care about deeply." -- Brett Williams, Prof. of Anthropology, American Univ. "This heartfelt essay on eco-tourism should elicit lively and informed
discussion on the ethics, economics, and cultural issues involved, especially
for the indigenous peoples." -- Pat Aufderheide, Prof. and Dir., Center
for Social Media, American Univ.
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The Chinampas |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Anne Prutzman – Milestone Media 31 min. Color 1990 Catalog #37984 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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 A powerful visual document of great value to students of the environment and culture change. It brings a piece of Mexican history to life and is well suited to high school and college instruction.-- Prof. John Adair, Dept. of Anthropology, San Francisco State Univ. American Anthropological Assn. selection Third World Studies Conference honoree |
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Daughters of Ixchel: Maya Thread of Change |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 29 min. Color 1993 Catalog #38239 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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Deals seriously with tradition and the way tradition is changing in order to survive. I highly recommend the video for introductory cultural and social anthropology, as well as for courses in development and anthropology, art and anthropology, tourism, and Latin American studies. -- John Leavitt, Prof. of Anthropology, Univ. of Montreal Society for Visual Anthropology Award Intl. Film & TV Festival of NY Award Canadian Intl. Film Festival honoree American Anthropological Assn. selection |
| Festive Land: Carnaval in Bahia | |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC At the same time, Carnaval reflects the racial and social tensions of Brazil's heterogeneous society. At first glance there appear to be two million people chaotically mixed on the streets, but a more detailed look reveals how patterns of segregation driven by racial, social and economic differences continue in Carnaval. "Festive Land" explores the rich fabric of Bahian Carnaval from the points of view of four people of different social classes and backgrounds. Marcia is a young black percussionist trying to make a living as a musician. She sees Carnaval as an opportunity to pursue her dream. Ignez and Paulo come from upper-middle-class backgrounds and share a keen enthusiasm for the festival, but they seek out very different aspects of the celebration. Marcos views Carnaval as a way to remain connected to his African roots. Commentary is also provided by noted Brazilian artists, leaders, and scholars. Grammy winner Gilberto Gil gives a personal account of his participation in the quasi-religious "afoxe" group, Filhos de Gandhi. Daniela Mercury, one of the biggest pop stars in Brazil, discusses the varied influences shaping contemporary Bahian Carnaval music. Antonio Carlos dos Santos, founder of the group Ile Aiye, explains the significance of afro-centric Carnaval groups called "blocos afros," and describes how racism is reflected in the social dynamics of the celebration. "Festive Land" will stimulate reflection and discussion in any course
studying the African diaspora, cultural anthropology, Latin American studies,
comparative religion, or ethnomusicology. It was produced by Carolina
Moraes-Liu. |
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 "Refreshingly, this film explodes the long-running myth that Carnaval subverts the racial and class hierarchies that trouble Bahia and Brazil during the rest of the year. The film is not only beautifully picturesque and musical, but also sociologically smart." -- James Matory, Prof. of Anthropology and Afro-American Studies, Harvard Univ. "This engaging film can be used effectively in anthropology courses dealing with Latin America, religion, performance, and gender and sexuality. It also is appropriate for introductory cultural anthropology. The film raises interesting issues of cultural diversity, gender, race, and class, as it conveys the spirit of play, pleasure, and energy that permeates Carnaval in Bahia." -- Prof. Kathleen Zaretsky, Dept. of Anthropology, San Jose State Univ. "Although perhaps not as famous as its spectacular cousin in Rio, Carnaval in Salvador da Bahia is nonetheless one of the most complex, fascinating, and beautiful pre-Lenten festivals in the world. This celebration involves expressions of Afro Brazilian religions, music, and dance, all set before a stunning coastal backdrop. This film provides an effective introduction to the festival and its various forms of organization. The narrative describes different levels and types of involvement in the festival by following several individuals before and during the celebration. The video will encourage discussion of how forms of festive play and display become entangled with representations and appropriations of cultural forms in a stratified multiracial society." -- Peter Tokofsky, Assoc. Adjunct Prof., Dept. of World Arts and Culture, UCLA "Through observational footage and a series of fascinating and eclectic interviews, the video represents some of the complex cultural, class, and racial dynamics that underlie Carnaval celebrations in Bahia. At the same time it is both accessible and entertaining." -- Irina Leimbacher, Artistic Co-Director, San Francisco Cinematheque, and Lecturer in Anthropology, UC Berkeley
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The Films of John Cohen: Anthropology, Music, Cinema |
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| John Cohen is one of America's pre-eminent documentary filmmakers. He was a founding
member of the New Lost City Ramblers, which from 1958 to 1979 performed and recorded
traditional folk music. He is also a noted still photographer and has exhibited at
museums and galleries around the world. In the early 1960s he began to make films
on indigenous music, tracing its roots in ancient cultures and exploring its contemporary
social role in several countries. Since then he has produced a remarkable series
of films that have been acclaimed by scholars and critics and won awards and honors
at festivals and academic conferences worldwide. His films are particularly noted
for their visual richness and their deep understanding of the links between culture,
music, art, and religion. His films are rich in detail and full of vitality, and
they are appreciated by scholars and enjoyed by general audiences. The University
of California is proud to be the exclusive distributor of John Cohen's works. The
following six documentaries were all filmed in Peru; please see the sections on "Ethnic
Studies" and "European Ethnography" for other works of John Cohen. Save 10% off the video purchase price of any three or more works by John Cohen! |
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 Margaret Mead Film Festival honorees Latin American Studies Assn. Awards of Merit Cinema du Reel Festival (Paris) honorees Festival dei Popoli (Florence) honorees American Anthropological Assn. selections Native American Film Festival honorees Natl. Educational Film Festival Awards Chicago Latino Film Festival honorees |
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Carnival in Q'eros |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 32 min. Color 1991 Catalog #38094 Sale: video $295, Rental: $50 |
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 A rare and delightful film that presents wonderful performances in their 20th-century context and guarantees animated class discussions. -- Anthony Seeger, ethnomusicologist and Curator, Smithsonian Institution |
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Choqela: Only Interpretation |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 12 min. Color 1987 Catalog #38164 Sale: video $150, Rental: video $40 |
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A visually stunning and linguistically provocative work. The mysteries of interpretation and ritual performance presented in this film should be suitable for most audiences, although those involved in Latin American studies and related disciplines will find much to ponder. -- American Anthropologist |
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Dancing with the Incas |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 58 min. Color 1992 Catalog #38163 Sale: video $295; Rental: video $70 |
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A tour-de force! Musically rich and politically poignant, this work paves the way for a new kind of ethnographic film. It demonstrates how members of the Peruvian urban poor are transforming rural indigenous traditions and producing an entirely new artistic genre that is sensitive to Andean musical structures and to contemporary popular culture. While focusing on the music, the film never lets us forget the economic struggles of the people who perform.-- Judith Friedlander, Prof. of Anthropology and Dean of Social Sciences, Hunter College, City Univ. of New York |
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Mountain Music of Peru |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 60 min. Color 1984 Catalog #38169 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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Superb.... Recommended for general audiences as well as for college courses in cultural anthropology, Latin America, and ethnomusicology. -- Choice |
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Peruvian Weaving |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 25 min. Color 1980 Catalog #38168 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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Q'eros: The Shape of Survival |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 53 min. Color 1979 Catalog #38167 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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Darkness into Light: Semana Santa, San Miguel |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: San Rafael Films 56 min. Color 1997 Catalog #38422 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $75 |
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 The nature of Mexican culture cannot be understood integrally without taking into account the powerful influence of religion. This film captures and demonstrates, as no book can, the depth and intensity of the religious experience, which remains a clear source of pride and an element of vital importance in the cultural life of Mexico. -- R.J. Schiefen, Prof. of History, Univ. of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas WorldFest Houston Award Columbus Intl. Film Festival Award |
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The Five Suns: A Sacred History of Mexico |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 59 min. Color 1996 Catalog #38335 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $75 |
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An impressive achievement! The film combines scholarly rigor and accuracy with great artistry and beauty. The filmmakers are entirely adept in the conventions and style of the period, and it is truly wonderful to see this brilliantly colored artwork come alive in sound and motion. -- Karl Taube, Prof. of Anthropology, UC Riverside An amazingly happy combination of scholarly accuracy and artistic quality. I presently use the Popol Vuh film in two separate courses, but the combination of it with this new film will provide me with a wonderful introduction for students to two important Mesoamerican mythologies and a vivid 'compare and contrast' showcase for two different Mesoamerican artistic styles. -- Peter L. van der Loo, Prof. of Humanities and Religious Studies, Northern Arizona Univ. "Special Jury Citation," Native Americas Intl. Film Exposition, Santa Fe American Anthropological Assn. Selection American Society for Ethnohistory honoree |
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The Forbidden Land |
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| This informative and compelling documentary examines the growing divisions within
the Catholic Church in Brazil and raises important questions about the role of the
Church in the developing world. Through its examination of the situation in Brazil,
the film explores the social, economic, and political roots of similar struggles
being waged throughout Central and South America. On one side of the conflict is
the conservative heirarchy, which maintains that the Church should stay out of politics
and concentrate on saving souls. On the other side are the progressive followers
of Liberation Theology, who argue that the Church must take up the cause for social
justice. At the heart of this dispute are the army of poor and dispossessed Brazilians
who clamor for land reform and the wealthy and powerful landowners and developers
who oppose them. Directed by Helena Solberg for the National Film Board of Canada.
Note: This title is only available for sale from us to customers in the USA. Customers
in other countries should contact the National Film
Board of Canada directly. 58 min. Color 1994 Catalog #38277 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $70 |
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Latin American Studies Assn. Award of Merit Wilbur (National Religious Public Relations Council) Film Award |
| Guadalupe, Mother of all Mexico | |
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| Veneration of the Virgin Mary has been a vital
part of Mexican life for almost 500 years. Today, millions of Mexican devotees
make their way to shrines to the Virgin throughout the country. They travel
in busses and cars, on bicycles, and on foot. They walk to the sound of
Indian drums, oompah bands, and mariachi brasses. Some pilgrims are barefoot.
Some enter the shrines on their knees.
This groundbreaking documentary on Mexican popular culture explores the histories and miracles associated with the Virgin Mary as she is honored under the titles of Our Lady of Guadalupe (in Mexico City), Our Lady of Remedies (in Comonfort, Guanajuato), Our Lady of Solitude (in Oaxaca), and Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos (in Jalisco). The four Marian celebrations examined all date from the Transition period of the 16th and 17th centuries, and each illustrates important syncretic joinings of vastly different cultures. The film interweaves memorable scenes from pilgrimages, feast day celebrations, and other public spiritual events with insightful commentary by devotees, observers, and scholars. In so doing it vividly illustrates how spiritual life has helped shape Mexican culture throughout history -- even in pre-Christian times -- and continues to do so today. Music is intrinsic to the story -- Indian music for dance, and music with Nahuatl and Spanish lyrics. "Guadalupe: Mother of All Mexico" will stimulate reflection and discussion
in any course studying Mexican culture and in a variety of courses in
cultural anthropology, Latin American studies and history, popular culture,
and comparative religion. It was produced by Patricia Lacy Collins and
Robert S. Cozens. |
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 "Makes a great contribution toward understanding the role and importance that the Virgin of Guadalupe plays in Mexican culture. The film adds to an understanding of Latin American culture that should be basic to the study of Latin American history or the Spanish language. It also adds new dimensions to the study of theology and anthropology because of its focus on the relationship between the human person and God (or gods), and between the individual and the Mother of God venerated under the title of the Virgin of Guadalupe." -- J. Michael Miller, President, Univ. of St. Thomas |
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Hail Umbanda |
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| This unique, insider's view of Umbanda, the fastest-growing religion in Brazil, shows
the cult's raucous pageantry and public festivals as well as its more esoteric, exotic,
and rarely-seen ceremonies. A blending of Catholicism with traditional African and
Native American religions, Umbanda is characterized by ritualistic sacrifices and
offerings and altered states of consciousness described by devotees as possession
by supernatural beings. Includes commentary by numerous authorities and practitioners,
but focuses on one Painho or Pai de Santo (Father of the Gods), who introduces and
explains many different aspects of Umbanda. By Jose Araujo. 46 min. Color 1988 Catalog #37733 Sale: video $195, Rental: $60 |
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Margaret Mead Film Festival honoree CineFestival San Antonio honoree Western Psychological Assn. honoree Film Arts Festival honoree |
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Hidden Scars |
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| Torture has become a 20th-century epidemic -- a political epidemic, not a biological
one. This powerful documentary examines this epidemic by focusing on the story of
Miguel, a Quiche Maya Indian who was falsely accused of collaborating with Guatemalan
guerrillas, tortured for days, then dumped on a roadside near Guatemala City. He
escaped through Mexico to the U.S., where he is seeking asylum. The video documents
Miguel's shattering experience and explores its continuing effects on his life. It
also provides a broad overview of the scope of torture in Latin America and on the
difficulties facing refugees in the U.S. This is a work that should be seen by all
students of anthropology, for it graphically portrays problems faced by many of the
native peoples around the world who are studied more abstractly in anthropological
texts. Produced by Grace Barnes. 50 min. Color 1994 Catalog #38286 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $60 |
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A stunning visual document that breaks through the wall of silence that the torturers
impose on their victims. -- Victor Perera, author of Unfinished Conquest:
The Guatemalan Tragedy An excellent introduction to the complex reality of torture and exile, as experienced by one Maya survivor. I highly recommend this work as a resource to my colleagues and their students. -- M. Brinton Lykes, Prof. of Counseling and Psychology, Boston College Latin American Studies Assn. Award of Merit American Anthropological Assn. selection American Psychological Assn. honoree |
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Huichol Sacred Pilgrimage to Wirikuta |
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| This sensitive documentary follows the annual pilgrimage and peyote hunt of the Huichol
Indians of western Mexico. It focuses on the sacred sites, the traditional ceremonies
and rituals, and the teachings of the Huichol shamans and elders. Includes the Huichol
songs and music that accompany the journey and shows that people now come from around
the world to join the pilgrimage. By Larain Boyll. 29 min. Color 1991 Catalog #38096 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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It is rare that an ancient tradition and the world of a shaman can still be experienced in our times. This video is not only a beautiful visual experience; it also oVers deep insights into the humanness of the Huicholes. -- Dr. Ruth-Inge Heinze, anthropologist, UC Berkeley; author of Shamans of the 20th Century An anthropological gem. -- Prof. Stanley Krippner, California Institute of Integral Studies CineFestival San Antonio honoree Intl. Conference on the Study of Shamanism honoree American Anthropological Assn. selection |
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The Huichols |
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| The Huichols, who live in the western Sierra Madre mountains of central Mexico, are
best known for their peyote rituals, their shamanistic practices, and their colorful,
intricate textiles. However, like many indigenous peoples the Huichols have no written
history; the continuation of their culture depends on the vitality of their oral
traditions. Chilio Sanchez and Luis Gonzalez, from Las Guayabas, a small Huichol
village, are working to preserve the oral traditions and histories of their people.
In this unusual documentary they share some of the history, culture, traditional
tales, and art of the Huichol. A film by Ryan Noble. 28 min. Color 1997 Catalog #38423 Sale: video $150, Rental: video $50 |
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An important addition to the field of ethnography. -- John Hawkins, Dept. Chair and Prof. of Anthropology, Brigham Young Univ. An insightful view of Huichol art and culture and how they are influenced by the Huichol religion of sacred peyote consumption. -- David Scheerer, Prof. of Anthropology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman Arizona Intl. Film Festival Award |
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Invisible Indians: Mixtec Farmworkers in California |
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| This important video provides an interdisciplinary look at the history, culture,
and current social and economic conditions of the Mixtec people of Oaxaca, Mexico.
It examines the factors causing ever-increasing numbers of Mixtecs to become migrants,
living part of the year in Oaxaca and part in California, where they make up between
five and ten percent of the total agricultural work force. The video provides an
excellent introduction to Mixtec culture and invaluable background information for
understanding the role of migrant farmworkers in California and America. A useful
instructor's guide enhances the video. Spanish-language version available; please
inquire. Produced by the Division of Information Technology, UC Davis, for Dr. James
Grieshop, Dept. of Applied Behavioral Sciences, and Prof. Stefano Varese, Dept. of
Native American Studies. 43 min. Color 1993 Catalog #38251 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $50 |
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 A unique introduction to the presence of indigenous Mexicans in the modern global economy and California agriculture. A useful tool for anthropology, ethnic studies, and agriculture classes -- Juan Vicente Palerm, Prof. of Anthropology, UC Santa Barbera |
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Jose Joaquin Salcedo: The Multimedia Quixote |
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| This inspirational documentary recounts the work and achievements of Jose Joaquin
Salcedo, a South American priest who some 50 years ago developed a pioneering radio-based
multimedia system to educate children and adults in his native Colombia. This innovative
distance-education system, known as "Accion Cultural Popular" (ACPO), has
spawned similar grassroots educational programs in more than 20 other nations. The
film explores Salcedo's personality and ideology and features interviews, commentary,
and rare archival footage of Salcedo and ACPO. It forcefully conveys Salcedo's belief
that education for critical literacy is a means to empower campesinos and other ordinary
people to be full and equal participants in the creation and maintenance of just,
equitable, and democratic societies. He saw the task of developing the mind to be
a fundamental prerequisite to any country's progress, and an urgent necessity throughout
Latin America. Produced by Mauricio Salas. 29 min. Color 1997 Catalog #38424 Sale: video $150, Rental: video $50 |
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This finely crafted film moves at a nice clip by blending brief interviews with
people who knew Salcedo and his programs with footage of the rural areas where Salcedo
worked. The video is clearly broken up into several themes and gives just the right
amount of information to make those themes clear and warrant discussion in the classroom
after viewing. -- Michael Johns, Prof. of Latin American Studies, UC Berkeley I plan to use this excellent portrayal in my courses in adult education for democracy, as it fills an important vacuum in our historical knowledge. It is a well-wrought examination of one of the important pioneers in adult education, one who stands in the grand tradition of Jose Marti and Eduard Lindeman. Father Salcedo is an immediate forerunner of Paulo Freire, whose work he significantly influenced. The film vividly reminds us that there have always been vital pioneers in education in areas of the world other than North America and Europe, and that they have much to teach us. -- John Hurst, Prof. of Education, Graduate School of Education, UC Berkeley "Outstanding Documentary," Silver State Documentary Festival Natl. Educational Film Festival Award Chicago Latino Film Festival honoree |
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Kantik'i Maishi: Songs of Sorghum |
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| This beautifully filmed documentary explores the harvest celebrations of Bonaire
and Curacao, two islands in the Netherlands Antilles. It demonstrates how industrialization
and the rise of a tourist economy have profoundly changed these African-derived folk
festivals. Known as Simadan in Bonaire and Seu in Curacao, the festivals celebrate
through traditional food, song, and dance the harvesting of sorghum, formerly a staple
food. The video highlights the different ways that Simadan and Seu are celebrated
and examines the historical roots of these differences. Produced by Joan Kaufman;
co-produced and narrated by Elsio Jansen. 58 min. Color 1992 Catalog #38156 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $60 |
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Preserves a valuable moment of the African cultural heritage in the Caribbean.... Should become an integral part of courses in anthropology, African studies, ethnomusicology, folklore, history, and sociology. -- Prof. Gerdes Fleurant, Coordinator of African American Studies, Salem State College Latin American Studies Assn. Award of Merit Chicago Latino Film Festival honoree Black Heritage Film Festival honoree American Anthropological Assn. selection |
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The Last Zapatista |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC This dramatic and poetic film is a tribute to Mexico's campesinos. It portrays their ongoing struggle for the land while also relating the now-legendary story of the folk hero Zapata. Near-mystical beliefs about Zapata are recounted in interviews with farmers, still-living Zapata family members, and members of the Mexican government who actively try to co-opt his myth and legend. Highlighted by rare archival footage of Zapata and the Mexican Revolution, The Last Zapatista demonstrates that the heritage and ideals of zapatismo will drive Mexico's agrarian struggle long into the future. This is essential viewing for any course in Mexican history or culture, Latin American studies, cultural anthropology, or development issues. Produced by Susan Lloyd. 30 min. Color 1996 Catalog #38418 Sale: video $195, Rental: video $60 |
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 This is the first film to tell the true story of my father and the untold struggle for the land in Mexico today. -- Ana Maria Zapata, daughter of Emiliano Zapata This film has had an overwhelming response in my classes in Latin American history. It brings home to students the reality of Zapata's heritage in a way that no lecture or reading could ever do. Poignant and compelling, it is an important educational tool for a wide variety of classes in history and Latin American studies. -- Stephanie Wood, Prof. of History, Univ. of Oregon A vital and vitally relevant film for American audiences today, rich in insight and historical context for understanding the present political and economic crisis in Mexico. The film is an excellent teaching tool; it clearly shows the connections between Mexico's revolutionary past and its present, doing so in a way that humanizes the struggle and its participants. It will remain crucially important for the forseeable future. -- John Foran, Prof. of Sociology, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara Cine Latino Film Festival honoree CineFestival San Antonio honoree Latino Film and Video Festival honoree Northwest Film and Video Festival honoree |
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The Living Maya |
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| This series documents life in a Yucatan village, focusing on one family over the
course of a year. The films explore the ancient agricultural and religious customs
that ground contemporary Maya life in traditional values -- even as modern Mexico
comes to the village. In Maya, Spanish, and English, with English subtitles. By Hubert
Smith. Save More Than 20% Special Series Price: $395 58 min. each Color 1985 Catalog #37190-37193 Sale: video $125 each, Rental: video $60 each |
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CINE Golden Eagle Award PBS national broadcasts Margaret Mead Film Festival honoree Choice Outstanding Nonprint Media Award |
| Program 1 Introduces the village of Chican and the Colli-Colli family, and examines the structure of Maya agricultural and village life. Program 2 Hard-pressed by an illness in the family, the Colli-Colli face financial and emotional challenges using traditional solidarity to muster resources and comfort. Drought threatens the village's crucial corn crop. Program 3 The Colli-Colli's two youngest sons plead to be placed in school in Merida -- the first of their family to reject traditional life. Program 4 As the Colli-Colli resolve their difficulties and the village harvests a mediocre corn crop, viewers are left with an understanding of the underlying rationales of Maya life and with questions about their own assumptions, priorities, and values. 58 min. each Color 1985 Catalog #37190-37193 Sale: video $125 each, Rental: video $60 each |
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Mas Fever: Inside Trinidad Carnival |
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| Carnival in the New World is a synthesis of European elements -- Christian traditions
and the masquerade -- and African elements -- primarily music and dance. In Trinidad,
Carnival is a colorful, exuberant celebration of national focus and pride. Preparations
are made throughout the year and reach a frantic pace just before Carnival begins.
This informative and thoroughly enjoyable documentary goes behind the scenes to capture
the spirit of the celebration and explore its major events and aspects. The video
features sequences on the history and culture of steel drum and calypso music and
comes with a printed glossary of Trinidad Carnival terms. This is a timeless and
essential work for all classes dealing with the African diaspora, cultural anthropology,
Caribbean or Latin American studies, comparative religion, or ethnomusicology. Produced
by Larry Johnson and Glenn Micallef. 55 min. Color 1996 Catalog #38351 Sale: video $195; Rental: video $60 |
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A lastingly artful presentation of the buzzing confusion and profundity of Carnival. The interviews are illuminating and the steel music, always difficult to capture on tape, comes through majestically. The video offers a rare glimpse of the human spirit liberated from the chains of everyday decorum, at home in the company of dancing gods. -- The Beat (journal of world music) Official Video of the Smithsonian Institution's "Caribbean Festival Arts" International Touring Exhibition American Anthropological Assn. selection |
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The Maya Pompeii |
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| About 1,400 years ago, a sudden volcanic eruption buried a Maya agricultural village,
sealing off intact what has become one of the most important discoveries in the Americas.
The ancient villagers of Joya de Ceren, in what is now El Salvador, had barely enough
time to escape with their lives; they left behind their homes and their possessions
and inadvertently provided historians, archaeologists, and scholars with the most
complete record of ancient everyday Maya life ever discovered. This remarkable documentary
explores the historic village and examines its relationship to the ancient Maya world
and other major Maya sites throughout Central America. On-location footage and extraordinary
3D computer animation are combined to recreate the ancient village of Joya de Ceren
and the resplendent Classical city of Tikal. The film recounts ancient Maya achievements
in agriculture, architecture, astronomy, and art. It also documents the lives of
the Maya today, highlighting ancient ceremonies still practiced in Central America.
The film illustrates the rich contributions of the modern Maya to music, the visual
arts, and folkloric expressions, and speculates on the impact of the detailed knowledge
revealed in Joya de Ceren on the lives of contemporary Maya as they struggle for
economic equality and civil rights in their native countries. This is one of the
best general introductions to the Maya available and is a must for courses in Latin
American and Native American studies, anthropology, and archaeology. Produced by
Eva Wunderman and Nick Versteeg. 47 min. Color 1996 Catalog #38369 Sale: video $225, Rental: video $60 |
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A Month for the Entertainment of Spirits |
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| This informative video examines the ceremonies of African-Guyanese who continue the
African traditions of making contact with the spirit world. The video begins with
a libation ceremony celebrating emancipation, performed by descendants of slaves
to make contact with their ancestors. Then it studies four Comfa ceremonies and explores
their similarities with other rituals that access the spirit world. By Dr. Kean Gibson,
Univ. of the West Indies, Barbados. 30 min. Color 1992 Catalog #38143 Sale: video $125, Rental: video $50 |
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The New Tijuana |
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| Luis Valdez narrates this eye-opening profile of booming Tijuana, Mexico, the West
Coast's second largest city after Los Angeles. As Tijuana struggles between its heritage
as a Third World border town with a sordid past and its promise as an international
center of finance and high technology, it is rapidly emerging as the cutting edge
of Mexico's political, social, and economic transformation. Essential viewing for
understanding modern Mexico and the free trade agreement between it and the U.S.
Produced by Paul Espinosa for KPBS San Diego. 58 min. Color 1991 Catalog #38067 Sale: video $295, Rental: $60 |
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Takes us beyond the myths and glitter to reveal a large and economically important
Latin American urban center.... Recommended highly for courses on Mexican history
and politics, peoples and cultures of Latin America, urban studies and urbanization,
and Third World development. -- Prof. Leo Chavez, Dept. of Anthropology, UC Irvine
Natl. Conference of Christians and Jews Award American Film Festival Award PBS National Broadcast San Antonio CineFestival honoree |
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Nomads of the Rainforest |
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| One of the great ethnographic films of the 1980s, this documentary records a multidisciplinary
expedition to research the Waorani, a fierce and isolated Indian tribe that inhabits
the Amazon rainforest. Contains spectacular scenes of the skilled Waorani blowgun
hunters in their lush jungle environment. Also examines the daily life and rituals
of this egalitarian tribe whose members have no concept of competition or rank and
who are completely free of such Western diseases as cancer, strokes, and heart disease.
Produced by Grant Behrman. 59 min. Color 1987 Catalog #37559 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $60 |
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One of the finest ethnographic films... deserves to take its place among such classics as The Hunters, Dead Birds, and The Feast. -- Robert Carneiro, Curator of South American Ethnology, Museum of Natural History, New York CINE Golden Eagle Award American Anthropological Assn. selection Margaret Mead Film Festival honoree Media & Methods Award PBS National Broadcasts on Nova |
| Pancho Villa and Other Stories | |
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| This remarkable account of the Mexican Revolution
(1910-1920) and one of its most important and enigmatic protagonists, Francisco
"Pancho" Villa, is a unique achievement in the realm of historical
documentaries. At the center of the film are the personal stories of men
and women -- all now deceased -- who were witnesses to and participants
in the Revolution.
These oral histories, which were conducted from 1986 to 1994 throughout Mexico and the southwestern U.S., flow seamlessly between historical incident and legends associated with the deeds of Villa and his La Division del Norte. Among those whose stories unfold are Soledad Seanez, the wife of Villa at the time of his death, residents of Columbus, New Mexico, who recall Villa's attack on the U.S., and those who fought both with and against Villa. The film is extraordinary for its pioneering use of new digital technologies,
through which it brings a compelling and contemporary look to some 250
rare vintage photographs of Villa and the Revolution as well as authentic
motion picture footage shot by U.S. and Mexican film crews on the Revolution's
battlefields. These images are skillfully interwoven with the words and
memories of those interviewed to create a fascinating, sometimes mysterious,
and always riveting historical exploration that will inspire discussion
and analysis in all courses on Mexican and 20th-century history, as well
as in any course concerned with the nature of historical research and
inquiry. Produced by Phillip Rodriguez. |
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 "A valuable tool for the teaching of Mexican history. Beautiful and compelling, the film offers students a rare glimpse at the Mexican Revolution and one of its legendary figures. A fine contribution to the genre." -- James W. Wilkie, Prof. of Mexican History and Co-Chair, Latin American Studies Program, UCLA "A very perceptive portrayal of popular attitudes toward one of 20th-century Mexico's most revered and controversial personalities." -- Friedrich Katz, Prof. of Latin American History, Univ of Chicago, and author, "The Life and Times of Pancho Villa" "Perfectly captures the feeling of the period! The execution of 'someone' by the firing squad could have been my grandfather, who was killed that way when my father was eight. My father died in 1994, 86 years old. He spoke just like those in this documentary." -- Refugio Rochin, Dir., Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives
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Popol Vuh: The Creation Myth of the Maya |
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This title is no longer distributed by UC Extension. For distribution information, contact: Berkeley Media LLC 60 min. Color 1989 Catalog #37902 Sale: video $295, Rental: $70 Spanish-language version #38183 Sale: video $295, Rental: video $70 |
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Patricia Amlin has made this great Native American Indian myth one that a person of any age -- child, teenager, adult -- can appreciate. The film makes the tale access |
