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Human Studies Film Archives
Guide to Man Blong Custom (Outtakes), 1974-1975
Summary
- Collection ID:
- HSFA.1975.05
- Creators:
-
British Broadcasting CorporationAttenborough, David, 1926-MacIntyre, Michael
- Dates:
-
1974-1975
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
Film reelscolor sound; 29,600 feet16mmLinear 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 As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today.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 InstitutionMore Information
Local Number
Local Number
HSFA 1975.5.1
Keywords
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