Emerald Forest Summary Essay

1. Anthropology has existed almost as long as humanity itself. Over the years, many anthropologists have study vastly diverse civilizations and from their research formulated different theories about humanity. A major principle in anthropology is cultural relativism. Cultural relativism is knowing that humans have the freedom to obtain a certain degree of “understanding” or “empathy” with the foreign norms and tastes of other countries, and lifestyles. When anthropologists exhibit cultural relativism they are choosing to embrace the fact that each culture obtains its own values and practices, and should not make value judgments about cultural differences, but merely make observations and record those observations.

2. In the film, Emerald Forest, cultural relativism can be seen portrayed through the action of the protagonists immersing themselves into a different culture. An example of this was presented in the scene where Bill Markham went back to the forest to help save the women of the “Invisible People”. Due to the fact that Bill was concerned for the safety of these women it is apparent that he understood the importance of the women in the “Invisible Peoples” way of life. In the act of saving them, he came to realize that he grew to care for not only the women, but all that came with the

Joh Dunbar was not asked to take on the lifestyle of a Lakota Indian. The scene when John moved into a hut that was provided for him by the tribe, that was the moment he knew he wanted to completely take on the life of Lakota warrior and leave his life behind to be forgotten. He realized the strength the tribe exhibited in protecting their legacy. They had just as much courage and pride as the U.S. military had, and I honestly believe that is what John was intrigued with the most. They were a people, a people worth existing and they were going to fight any foreigners that