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Movie spotlight

Margaret Mead's New Guinea Journal

Movie
83 min
English

In 1967 Dr. Margaret Mead, world famous anthropologist, returns to the village of Peri on Manus Island, New Guinea, which she previously visited in 1928 and 1954. She tells the story of the people's emergence from the stone age existence, on her first trip, into modern ways of living

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Director: Margaret MeadGenres: Documentary

Plot Summary

This documentary offers a rare glimpse into the personal life and groundbreaking anthropological work of Margaret Mead. Through her own words and archival footage, the film chronicles her early fieldwork in New Guinea during the 1930s, focusing on her relationships with the indigenous peoples and her evolving understanding of culture and society. It explores the challenges and rewards of her research, highlighting her unique approach to ethnographic study.

Critical Reception

As a posthumous release based on Mead's personal journals, the film is less about critical reception and more about providing insight into a pivotal figure in anthropology. It is generally appreciated by those interested in Mead's work and the history of anthropology, offering a more intimate perspective than her published works.

What Reviewers Say

  • Offers a personal and intimate look at Margaret Mead's formative years as an anthropologist.

  • Provides valuable context for understanding Mead's significant contributions to cultural anthropology.

  • Appreciated for its archival footage and Mead's own reflective narration.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this specific documentary is not readily available, but general audience interest stems from Margaret Mead's iconic status in anthropology.

Fun Fact

The documentary heavily features Mead's personal reflections and unpublished writings, offering a perspective rarely seen by the public during her lifetime.

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