In our second episode of Anthropological Inquiries, we speak with Dr. Marty Otañez who has spent the last several years studying the Anthropology of Cannabis.
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Anthropology in 10 or Less: 111: Whiteness and White Trash
In this 4 part on our series on Race, we explore the concept of Whiteness and White Trash from an anthropological perspective.
Man in the Mirror (Happy Halloween!)
Happy Halloween 2017.
I recently wrote a piece for a Halloween themed Flash Fiction Event. I thought it would be fun to record a quick video and throw it up on YouTube. But, if you just want to read, the words are also below.
“The Man in the Mirror”
Welcome back doctor, you are well I hope?
No don’t bother, I know the usual trope
Are you ready to examine me under your microscope?
I am ready to share now, I will succumb to your hopes.
Your hopes, your hopes but what of my hopes?
I take it you want me to explain my tale?
I warn you now, you will think me mad, a liar, worthy of jail
I have told a few others but to no avail
They do not believe it, thus far the truth has not prevailed
The truth, the truth, the truth will prevail
Why am I speaking in rhymes you want to know?
It simply eases my pain and lessens my woe
The loss of my wife was, you see, quite a blow
Although, you think I am guilty, that I know
The woe, the woe, you cannot possibly know.
It was early morning when I woke from my doze
The darkness still sparkled, the sun had not rose
I shifted and turned in the chair that I chose
I shut my eyes tight but they would not stay closed
Stay closed, stay closed, if only they’d stay closed
I moaned, for sleep was scarce indeed.
The first colors of the morning had begun to bleed.
I sat up in the chair and tried to proceed
But long bouts of insomnia had sapped me indeed.
Nights without end, indeed, indeed.
I rose from the chair and the world started to spin
I pawed my way to the bathroom so my day could begin
I glanced at my reflection and I did not find twin
But instead staring back was a strange man with a grin.
That grin, that grin oh the horror of that grin.
His face was like mine, but something was wrong
We stared for a while, time looped and grew long
His eyes like questions, hypnotic and strong
My terror grew deeper for a mirror is never wrong
Distorted and cracked but never wrong
How much time passed? I could not say
But I will never forget what happened that day.
For the man in the mirror, he wanted to play.
And the game that he liked? Command and obey
Obey, obey I had to obey. My gaze was fixed, I had to obey.
It was not a good game, it was cruel you see
For he was trapped in the mirror and he wanted control of me
He wanted my life, he wanted to be set free
A curse had trapped him there for all eternity
The curse, the curse he wanted to be free.
A blood sacrifice was required of course
Not a chicken, nor a goat, not even a horse
At first, I resisted, I fought with all my force
But my will was finite compared to his source
Centuries of hate were his near infinite source
He compelled me to do it, to his will I was bound
You may think me mad, that my mind is unsound
But those eyes, those greedy eyes, so wide and so round
I could not resist his will, I was bound
Bound, bound, soon we will all be bound.
He beckoned me to the kitchen, and made me grab a knife,
And then he sent me upstairs to find my sleeping wife,
I entered our room full of struggle and strife
But his desires were strong and he wanted her life
Her life, your life, bound in the blood and knife
The rest you can guess I am sure it’s quite clear
After all, I’m famous, the case of your career
Crazy as It might seem we are bound right here
Do you feel it yet doctor? That tingle? That fear
The fear, the fear are my intentions yet clear?
And now doctor, I have you, you are all mine
You lingered too long, you dallied for the last time.
I captured you with my lyrics and rhythms and rhymes
I’ve been trying to find the right vessel and now you are mine
Mine oh mine, you are all mine
You see, the sorcerer in the mirror managed to get free
But his body? Long gone and so he found a home in me
But something about me is inadequate you see
I am dying and to a new body he must flee
This body will crumble, oh doctor, it’s too late now to flee
Come closer now doctor and stare into my eyes
That’s it I beckon, I compel, I promise you no more lies
That’s right doctor, give in, resistance is unwise
Let down your barriers, let me try you on for size
Wonderful, what a fit, what an excellent prize.
Now to find the descendants of my captors and bring about their
demise.
New Series: Anthropological Inquiries
Hey everyone,
Today I aired a first episode of a new series that runs parallel to Anthropology in 10 or Less called Anthropological Inquiries. The show takes a much more indepth look at topics in Anthropology by inviting Anthropologists to come talk about their work.
Episode 1: Features Dr. Michele Gamburd as we discuss the Anthropology of Natural Disasters
Anthropology in 10 or Less: 110: Sickle Cell Anemia
How in the world can a genetic disorder be an evolutionary advantage for human beings? Check out this episode on Sickle Cell Anemia to find out more.
On Arrival: A Sci-Fi Short Story (Audio Version)
Told through a sequence of old data transmissions from an Astronaut trapped on Alpha Centauri BB, ‘On Arrival’ documents the first encounter of humans with alien life. It’s an encounter that might change humanity forever.
Anthropology in 10 or Less: Religion Part 1: An Anthropology of Religion
What’s the relationship between religion and culture? How do anthropologists understand religion? How do you understand the great diversity of different religions? Find out in less than ten minutes.
