Human Studies Film Archives

Guide to Man Blong Custom (Outtakes), 1974-1975

Summary

Collection ID:
HSFA.1975.05
Creators:
British Broadcasting Corporation
Attenborough, David, 1926-
MacIntyre, Michael
Dates:
1974-1975
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
Film reels
color sound; 29,600 feet
16mm
Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection consists of outtakes from an episode of The Tribal Eye, a seven-part BBC documentary series on the subject of tribal art, written and presented by David Attenborough. Man Blong Custom, the sixth episode in the series, was hosted by David Attenborough and filmed in Melanesia on the islands of Aoba, Malekula, Uripir in the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and on Sulufo, Cassi-Cassi, Adigege, Malaita, and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Footage features: hungwe (major pig killing) on Aoba; Small Nambas namal (men's house) on Malekula with display of ritual art including undandadi (shields) and rambaramps (life-sized effigies), used as cavorting puppets in funeral ceremonies; Ambryn slit gong drummers and dancers on Uripir; turtle fishing on Sulufo; "custom" wedding on Cassi-Cassi; funeral on Adigege; Lau men and women engaged in the manufacture of shell money on Malaita; "custom" house of the Moro Cult on Guadalcanal (includes pipe players, speech-making, and various dances); building, decoration, and operation of a Tomako war canoe on Malekula; and sea spirit dances and tower jumping in a lagoon on Malekula. Included are helicopter views over Malekula.
Collection also includes associated texts, sound recordings, production logs, and field notes.
Legacy Keywords: Ceremony feasts ; Dance drumming singing ; Music ; Animal Husbandry ideas about ; Authority bigmanship ; Animal sacrifice pigs ritual ; Music ; Aerial views ; Art effigies ; Money shell money Melanesia ; Funeral rites and ceremonies ; Marriage customs and rites g ; Canoes dugouts outriggers as transportation ; Language and culture ; Melanesia ; New Hebrides ; Malaita (Solomon Islands) ; Lao Lagoon ; Makaruka Island ; Somilita ; Port Adams ; Ambryn New Hebrides ; Small Nambas ; Big Nambas ; Mbotgate
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Received from the British Broadbasting Corporation in 1975.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Preferred Citation
Man Blong Custom
(Outtakes), Human Studies Film Archives, Smithsonian Institution

More Information

Local Number

Local Number
HSFA 1975.5.1


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Oceania Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vanuatu Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Solomon Islands Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Malekula (Vanuatu) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television programs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound films Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Human Studies Film Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland 20746
hsfa@si.edu