Thomas Seligman Film of Papua New Guinea: Middle Sepik and Mount Hagen Sing-Sing
odd: label: Local Numbers
content: HSFA 2015.9.1
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Seligman, Thomas K.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Thomas Seligman films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5 Film reels (90 minutes, color sound; Super8, 8mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1977
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Full film record shot in Papua New Guinea by anthropologist Thomas Seligman, of the Mount Hagen sing-sing as well as shorter segments of footage in Middle Sepik villages. Depicted at the sing-sing are several villages' chant and dance displays, mostly by men, as well as a smaller number of women's performances and a bamboo and guitar orchestra. The performances encompass a range of ornaments, dress, body paint colors and patterns, masks, and dancing, and several groups often perform at the same time. Villages represented include: Kambaramba, Timbunke, Mindimbit, Aibom, Yentche, Korogo, [Kukaku?], [Angrinan?], and the military band of Goroka. Western anthropologists and tourists are present.    Other footage includes the Asaro (3z(Bmudmen(3y (Bof Kenitasara Village, as well as canoe carving and woodworking in Middle Sepik villages (at times accompanied by chanting and dancing).  Second film reel records daily life in Middle Sepik villages. Filming locations include Mindimbit Village and a larger town (Mount Hagen?). Depicted are a wide range of everyday tasks including whittling and carving canoes; sculpting clay pots; a village ceremony involving two large crocodile figures manipulated by dancers using poles; and another large ceremony beginning at the foot of a large temple. Both ceremonies involve choreographed dance, ceremonial attire and face paint, and musical accompaniment. Final shots are of a Western family, presumably at a resort.