After the Cult

More about the book

Exploring the complexities of "whiteness," this study delves into cultural perceptions in Papua New Guinea, focusing on cargo cults and masked dances. It contrasts indigenous concepts with Western interpretations, drawing on the legacy of anthropologist Charles Valentine, whose early work has become part of local tradition. Through fieldwork and archival research, the book examines the interplay between western and indigenous identities, tradition versus modernity, and the roles of anthropological ancestors and descendants, enriching the discourse on globalization and cultural dynamics.