The world of art

The cave artists of the Lascaux Caves seemed to have been leaving a message for other people to see.  The majority of the cave paintings had animals and some of those paintings seemed to represent how they were killed while other animal paintings seemed to show which animals to stay away from. These cave paintings served as a way to tell stories of what had been going on. Certain areas of the Lascaux Cave was used more than others; some walls had various paintings while others had maybe one. This leads me to believe that certain walls were more significant than others.

There were many animal paintings because it served as a ‘guide’ as to what animals were hunted and what animals were too dangerous to hunt. These animal paintings also served as a calendar; hunting season. The lack of people paintings was probably due to the fact that hunting was very important and maybe people were only painted if they had passed on. It served as a way to remember them.

The paintings serve as a story bring told; actions that happened to both animals and people. The paintings give some sort of detail; how certain animals should be hunted, which animals were too dangerous to even get near, and the paintings also served as a type of memorial for those that have died.

Difficulties these early humans navigated in order to paint these pictures was the horrible lighting (they used torches, which were not always the brightest), dangerous caves (certain areas were steep and unsafe to walk through), and making the materials to paint. This art to early humans was a way of keeping record of their life. It served as a type of guide for other people as well. The paintings of animals depicted the seasons and the hunting season as well. It was a way of keeping track and learning what early human society was like.

Modern art and art from the Lascaux Caves are very similar. Art is a type of method to tell a story, leave indication of what life was like during that era, and how the artist viewed their life. Art makes history and history is told by the individual. In a sense, art is like having a diary; you are able to create different emotions using specific colors and instead of using words, the paintings are expressing what the artist is feeling or the painting are representing an event that occurred.

My favorite type of art is photography because as the ‘camera man’ you are able to capture moments you think are special/important. Photographs can represent people’s emotions, beautiful environment/scenes , and what life is/was like for people in different eras. This type of culture lets you define what you believe is worth looking twice at. There are proper ways to go about taking pictures in a professional manner. Such details include lighting. The lighting makes a big difference with how you want to showcase someone or something. Also having the right angle makes for a beautiful picture. This type of art form benefits society because the specific moment of time is being captured forever and remembered; picture. That picture is saying so much and can be used in books, newspapers, magazines…etc.

How the Yanomamo culture differs from Western cultures

Any type of killing, whether it is murder or revenge killing is against the law in Western cultures. You are not allowed to kill anyone no matter the circumstance.  The only time you won’t get in trouble for killing someone is if it was in self-defense (which has to be proven) and of course if you do not get caught (if you did murder someone). Our job is to report the crime and let the police officers handle the situation. A court trial then commences to determine the fate of the killer (with factual evidence proving the killer is indeed the killer). There is jail time for the killer and that is how justice is served. In the Yanomamo culture, revenge killing is expected in order to have respect from your village. Boys are taught from a young age to start showing aggression/violence in order to be perceived as a man who is capable of surviving and taking care of his wife and kids. Women find this violence to be a great quality for a husband/father.

The Yanomamo are okay with vengeance as a legitimate motive for killing. If something drastic happens and they are hurting, then it is common for them to be on this sort of killing spree. A common statement heard among the Yanomamo is “If my sick mother dies, then I will kill some people.”  If there is no revenge raid for the killing of someone in the village then those tribes are considered to be cowards. That gives other tribes the upper hand because they take advantage of the lack of action by raiding their village. When a Yanomamo man kills, he must then perform a ritual purification (unokaimo) to prevent any type of supernatural harm caused by the victim.

A unokias are those that have killed. “Recruitment to the unokai status is on a self-selective basis, although boys are encouraged to be valiant and are rewarded for showing aggressive tendencies.” (Chagnon  page3) It is encouraged for men to show that they are tough through violence if need be. If no considerable action is taken then those men are seen as cowards. The more aggressive men are, the better they are perceived even by the women as a possible mate choice.

 Revenge killings have victims of mostly male during revenge raids. This means that is a kinsman is killed then his village must avenge his death by killing the killer or members of that killer’s tribe. Sexual jealousy is an extreme common case of violence among the Yanomamo tribes. If no revenge killing has taken place then the opposing villages are seen as cowards and those men are made fun of and mistreated. If they have wives, other men take advantage of them sexually. In some cases, the wives degrade their husbands for lack of action against the tribe that killed one of their people. Women find this type of aggression from men to be desirable and it’s a quality they look for in order to marry and have kids.

 We need laws against revenge killing and violence to prevent unwanted harm against one another. Even now with laws that we have to follow as citizens people still break those laws. Not having any type of structure would lead to complete mayhem and we do no need to live in a society where there is no type of respect or boundaries among citizens to live peacefully. People will always make their own decisions based on the morals they are taught at home. Overall, structure is needed and laws are the foundation required in order for us all to get along. If we acted with violence in order to show our strength like the Yanomamo people then we would not be able to co-exist as we have been without there being wars between cities on a daily basis like there was with the Yanomamo villages when a member of their tribe was killed by another tribe.

Families: Mom v. Dad

           My interviewee was my mom. She was born in Mexico and reestablished life in the U.S. when she was two years old. My mom’s upbringing was based on Catholic ideals and was taught at a very young age to always act responsibly and be self-sufficient. My mom has always been an independent individual and by age eight, she was helping my grandmother with the cooking and cleaning. Growing up, she was a bit of a tomboy, due to being raised with four brothers. She has one sister, but my aunt married very young so my mom was left with just her parents and four brothers. Due to some hardships that my mom experienced growing up and as a young adult, she is a very strong and motivated woman.

           Throughout the interview, I was very comfortable asking my mom questions about family members. My mom is my best friend so I can literally talk about to her about everything and anything. We have a very close bond and we talk multiple times on a daily basis. This being said, I know a lot of my mom’s extended family, if not by face then by name. There was no awkwardness, but there were some silent moments because my mom did not remember several of her cousins’ names because quite honestly she has so many cousins from both sides of my grandparents’ family. I do not think this affected my thoroughness of my interview.  Had I not been interviewing my mom, I do not think it would be awkward because I am able to adapt to people’s personality. I do not mind asking questions, but I also try not to step over any boundaries. Sometimes it is difficult trying not to not cross the line between informative and too personal.

            My mom is definitely closer to my grandmother’s side of the family. She was able to remember specific details regarding certain aunts/uncles and she seemed happy talking about it. She said that they visited my grandmother’s siblings more often than my grandpa’s siblings. My mom is very close to my grandma so I think that might have an impact on how my mom views her family from my grandma’s side versus her views of her family from my grandpa’s side of the family. Regardless, my mom has a lot of respect for her elders, especially her grandparents from both parents. Her grandmother (dad’s mom) would stay often with my mom and her siblings, but whenever she would visit in Mexico, she would stay with my grandma’s parents. She even called her grandparents (mom’s parents) Ama Margarita and Pa Angel. Her parents were okay with this because they had a lot of respect for their own parents and they understood the close bond they had. Both families had large families. They also shared names. My mom’s middle name is Elena and she has a least five cousins with the same name and another three that share her first name. Both my grandparents’ families know each other well and socialize from time to time. They are respectful to one another and when around one another they greet each other well. Overall, I think my mom is closer to my grandmother’s family because they were around more often than my grandfather’s family.

            I know more relatives from my mom’s side of the family. My dad has a really big family so I do not know them all, but besides that, I have always felt more comfortable with my mom’s family. They are always so welcoming and friendly while my dad’s family always takes a while to warm up to us and sometimes a certain aunt has this major attitude and it makes things awkward. My brothers and I were raised to always respect our elders so it makes it difficult to deal with her. We socialize more with my mom’s side of the family because my mom and grandmother (dad’s mom) do not have the best relationship and so my mom does not really like to spend time with my dad’s family.  My mom has never told us to stay away from my grandmother or the entire family, but their actions is what pushes us away and not desire to spend time with them. The women overall seem to take charge in my family. I know that in my home, my mom makes the important decisions. She discusses everything with my dad, but ultimately she has the last say so. My grandmother is the same way. The relatives that marry into the family are not treated any differently than those born into the family from my mom’s side.  They believe in being treated equally and unless you show otherwise, you will have the love and respect you deserve. On my dad’s side however, it is the total opposite. The relatives that marry into the family are seen as outsiders no matter the years of knowing one another or actions. There are no different attitudes based on gender. On both sides of our families there are gay and transgender relatives that are not mistreated. It did take some getting used to at first for some relatives, but they were never mistreated or discriminated against. Through this exercise I have learned that I am very close to my immediate family; parents and siblings. I know a lot about my mom’s side of the family and I also share a great bond with my grandparents (mom’s parents). The women in my family seem to ‘wear the pants’ and the men seem to be okay with this concept.  

Hunter Gatherers vs. Agriculture

Benefits from hunter gatherers: the animals they kill have a lot of protein; hunters know the lay of the land. Gatherers can tell which produce is not poisonous.

Benefits from agriculture: Farmer profits off his land, agriculture can feed many people and animals, no need for going out to hunt, and farmers are able to make supplies last longer.

Disadvantages of agriculture: Drought (weather in general), diseases from insects can harm food/your health, and tedious hours of farming.

 Disadvantages of hunter gatherers: Too many hunters causes there to be less animals to hunt, constant relocation to follow their food source, and lack of knowledge besides hunting.

Hunter gatherers provide a healthier diet due to the nutrients and proteins given through the food that is hunted. Agriculture can only grow so much produce that will suffice the energy humans need throughout the day. Weather can affect both hunters and agriculture, but it could potentially affect agriculture because it relies on weather. Hunters can battle through the weather to obtain their food source.

Early human populations made the transition into agriculture because the population grew and more people had to be fed. Food lasted longer and reduced the possibility of food spoiling; plenty of food. Also, the human civilization started expanding therefore eliminating the sole focus of hunting and gathering and shifted to expanding with knowledge and human expansion.

Part 2: Economics and Trade:

1.       There is a direct relationship between the availability of surplus and the ability to trade. Explain the meaning of this statement.

This is stating that you can only work with what you have. For example, you cannot go to the store and buy a $10 item if you only have $5.

Social benefits of trade:

1.       Ability to make friends.

2.       Obtain items you really want/ need (Higher chance of obtaining if you trade with the right person.)

Negative social results of the development of trade:

1.       Receive damaged goods

2.       Make enemies if they feel the trade isn’t enough

Given your answer in the question #1, explain the relationship between the development of agriculture and the development of trade. Again, think like humans 12,000 years ago.

Sometimes farmers would grow extra produce with the intent of trading whatever need be in order to obtain what they wanted. Trading was also a form of payment if money was not available.