Jessica Wark Cultural Anthropology Ishmael Reflection Paper 1

Many people do not directly choose the way that they are living; it is more or less the decision of human culture throughout a persons life. Enculturation, the process of learning culture as a child, is the root of how many people begin to practice and learn about their specific culture. However, culture can be a very creative and manipulative idea. In this novel Ishmaels description can be manifested into ideas about culture. There are a few different ways in which this idea can be described. I think that since Ishmael was transported a couple times that that symbolizes the way culture transfers through societies. He was moved from his native home in Africa to a zoo in the United States then to private land where he had more comfort. His captivity is similar to the way culture diffuses between societies. Realizing that culture is held captive is something that would be difficult for many people to visualize because of their cultural blind sides. As Ishmael says, If you cant discover whats keeping you in, the will to get out soon becomes confused and ineffectual (Quinn, 1995, p.25). What he means is that it is hard to identify exactly what you need to search for to be freed, so many people back out and just live as the way they are used to. The idea isnt obvious, so people carry on with their usual tasks and live life the way they were taught to. I think that when people are accustom to living a certain way they dont normally go out of their way to search for things that are not apparent to them. Ishmael explained Youre captives of a civilizational system that more or less compels you to go on destroying the world in order to live (Quinn, 1995, p. 25). Ishmael makes this point

to explain that according to some cultures, making certain decisions to survive sometimes means harming the environment. Hurting the place in which we live is not being done intentionally, but being done almost blindly. I think that this has to do with the idea of culture being in somewhat of a prison. We are stuck in a place where we think our culture is the best out there and our way of thinking and living is the correct way to live. This idea makes it almost seem like we are captives, but dont necessarily see it or view it in a negative way. The way Ishmael is held captive is a good representation of a certain culture. He has lived many years and has seen many things that people are doing in order to live the right way. He sees things that many of us dont notice or choose not to. Understanding culture is difficult when the only culture you spent time learning and practicing is your own.

References Quinn, D. (1995). Ismael. An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit. New York, NY: Bantam Books.