Trobriand Cricket: An Ingenious Response to Colonialism (50 min., filmed in 1973–74) is an anthropologicaldocumentary about the people of the Trobriand Islands and their unique innovations to the game of cricket. The film was made by Gary Kildea, under the direction of anthropologist Jerry Leach.[1] It was shot in three weeks, on a budget of around Au$180,000.[2]
Cricket was introduced to Trobriand by a British missionary, Reverend Gilmour, in the early 20th century, to replace violent tribal warfare with gentlemanly sportsmanship. Cricket in Trobriand underwent a dramatic transformation: the number of players, balls, bats, rules, and uniforms changed, as did the meaning of the sport and manner of play. In the film, cricket in Trobriand appears to be a form of ritualized warfare.
The film contrasts scenes of the original, staid game played on pitches in England with the Trobriand version, full of colors, sounds, music, and dance. A Trobriand "reporter" also seeks to find the meaning and origin of his 'own' culture, by interviewing senior members of the community and by observing the cricket game/ritual.
In fact, this film was done of a reconstruction of cricket match "specifically enacted for the camera team by the members of a local political movement, who at the time of filming (1973) were seeking an ascendant role in the Trobriand politics."[3] Weiner[4] also claims that this Kabisawali Association movement, led by John Kasaipwalova (or John K, as Kiriwina people called him) caused "intense sociopolitical factionalism that generated hatred, violence and confusion" and that John K was convicted by the Papua New Guinea government for embezzlement of government funds. Weiner also notes that during that period and after, cricket was not being played in Kiriwina. Thus the Trobriand cricket in this film was a well orchestrated and heavily edited version of something of which Trobrianders had recent memory.
Anthropological significance
Notwithstanding criticism of the re-enactment and surrounding politics, the film was praised for its anthropological contribution.
The film dramatically communicates the message that the Trobriand version is not in any sense a “primitive” game, nor is it a sport benignly accepted in its foreign form. Rather, Trobriand cricket is seen as a sophisticated activity, thoughtfully and creatively adapted by the local people, an adaptation that reflects the importance of fundamental cultural premises. From this perspective, the film has value for beginning anthropology students as well as those noncricket initiates for whom the fact that recently British women were permitted to swing their cricket bats at Lord’s in London would not be an impressive news item. (Unfortunately, Trobriand women did not escape the traditional male-dominated British game and they have not yet invaded the playing field.)
Trobriand Cricket is historically significant because it served in part as a model for future filmmakers seeking to take on an ethnographic project.[6] In an interview published in the Spring 1978 issue of Film Quarterly, ethnographic filmmaker Jean Rouch is quoted as saying about Trobriand Cricket: “It's a wonderful film, perhaps one of the greatest anthropological films of recent time.”[7]
^Weiner, Annette B. (1977). "Review of Trobriand Cricket". American Anthropologist. 79: 506–507. doi:10.1525/aa.1977.79.2.02a00790.
^Weiner, Annette B. (1978). "Epistemology and Ethnographic Reality: A Trobriand Island Case Study". American Anthropologist. 80: 752–757. doi:10.1525/aa.1978.80.3.02a00890.
^Weiner, Annette B. (1977). "Review of Trobriand Cricket". American Anthropologist. 79: 506–507. doi:10.1525/aa.1977.79.2.02a00790.
^Ness, Sally Ann. "Understanding Cultural Performance: "Trobriand Cricket"" TDR 32.4 (1988): 135-47. JSTOR. Web., additional text.
^Yakir, Dan and Rouch, Jean 1978. "Ciné-Transe: The Vision of Jean Rouch: An Interview," Film Quarterly, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Spring, 1978), pp. 2–11. University of California Press.
Further reading
Appadurai, Arjun 1997. "Playing With Modernity: the Decolonization of Indian Cricket," pages 89–113 in his Modernity at Large. Oxford University Press.
External links
Trobriand Cricket
Trobriand Cricket an ingenious response to colonialism at Ozmovies
January 23, 2023
trobriand, cricket, film, trobriand, cricket, ingenious, response, colonialism, filmed, 1973, anthropological, documentary, about, people, trobriand, islands, their, unique, innovations, game, cricket, film, made, gary, kildea, under, direction, anthropologist. Trobriand Cricket An Ingenious Response to Colonialism 50 min filmed in 1973 74 is an anthropological documentary about the people of the Trobriand Islands and their unique innovations to the game of cricket The film was made by Gary Kildea under the direction of anthropologist Jerry Leach 1 It was shot in three weeks on a budget of around Au 180 000 2 Contents 1 Historical context and film summary 2 Anthropological significance 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistorical context and film summary EditCricket was introduced to Trobriand by a British missionary Reverend Gilmour in the early 20th century to replace violent tribal warfare with gentlemanly sportsmanship Cricket in Trobriand underwent a dramatic transformation the number of players balls bats rules and uniforms changed as did the meaning of the sport and manner of play In the film cricket in Trobriand appears to be a form of ritualized warfare The film contrasts scenes of the original staid game played on pitches in England with the Trobriand version full of colors sounds music and dance A Trobriand reporter also seeks to find the meaning and origin of his own culture by interviewing senior members of the community and by observing the cricket game ritual In fact this film was done of a reconstruction of cricket match specifically enacted for the camera team by the members of a local political movement who at the time of filming 1973 were seeking an ascendant role in the Trobriand politics 3 Weiner 4 also claims that this Kabisawali Association movement led by John Kasaipwalova or John K as Kiriwina people called him caused intense sociopolitical factionalism that generated hatred violence and confusion and that John K was convicted by the Papua New Guinea government for embezzlement of government funds Weiner also notes that during that period and after cricket was not being played in Kiriwina Thus the Trobriand cricket in this film was a well orchestrated and heavily edited version of something of which Trobrianders had recent memory Anthropological significance EditNotwithstanding criticism of the re enactment and surrounding politics the film was praised for its anthropological contribution The film dramatically communicates the message that the Trobriand version is not in any sense a primitive game nor is it a sport benignly accepted in its foreign form Rather Trobriand cricket is seen as a sophisticated activity thoughtfully and creatively adapted by the local people an adaptation that reflects the importance of fundamental cultural premises From this perspective the film has value for beginning anthropology students as well as those noncricket initiates for whom the fact that recently British women were permitted to swing their cricket bats at Lord s in London would not be an impressive news item Unfortunately Trobriand women did not escape the traditional male dominated British game and they have not yet invaded the playing field Weiner 1977 5 Trobriand Cricket is historically significant because it served in part as a model for future filmmakers seeking to take on an ethnographic project 6 In an interview published in the Spring 1978 issue of Film Quarterly ethnographic filmmaker Jean Rouch is quoted as saying about Trobriand Cricket It s a wonderful film perhaps one of the greatest anthropological films of recent time 7 References Edit Film Library Royal Anthropological Institute Ozmovies Trobriand Island Cricket Weiner Annette B 1977 Review of Trobriand Cricket American Anthropologist 79 506 507 doi 10 1525 aa 1977 79 2 02a00790 Weiner Annette B 1978 Epistemology and Ethnographic Reality A Trobriand Island Case Study American Anthropologist 80 752 757 doi 10 1525 aa 1978 80 3 02a00890 Weiner Annette B 1977 Review of Trobriand Cricket American Anthropologist 79 506 507 doi 10 1525 aa 1977 79 2 02a00790 Ness Sally Ann Understanding Cultural Performance Trobriand Cricket TDR 32 4 1988 135 47 JSTOR Web additional text Yakir Dan and Rouch Jean 1978 Cine Transe The Vision of Jean Rouch An Interview Film Quarterly Vol 31 No 3 Spring 1978 pp 2 11 University of California Press Further reading EditAppadurai Arjun 1997 Playing With Modernity the Decolonization of Indian Cricket pages 89 113 in his Modernity at Large Oxford University Press External links EditTrobriand Cricket Trobriand Cricket an ingenious response to colonialism at Ozmovies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trobriand Cricket film amp oldid 1063835642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
