DISCUSSION GUIDELINES: THE HOLD LIFE HAS: COCA AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN AN ANDEAN COMMUNITY
BY CATHERINE ALLEN
In what ways is coca central to Quechua identity? How is this centrality enacted through rituals and other means? How do the runakuna use and think about coca?
Religious and social purposes that demonstrate their cultural lifestyle
Universal (Spiritual) = despacho being a ritual sacrifice
Communication to the earth
Regulations are dominate because of the sense its ritual
Relations + focus
Metabolism provides hallpay = coca chewing
Blowing the phutuy and kintu
COCA IS A MEDIUM FOR CONNECTING = EARTH, SCARED PLACES, ANCESTORS + SOCIETY
Distinctive marker of their cultural identity
Provides ritual work
How would you characterize the worldview of the runakuna (people) of Sonqo? What are its key elements? What are examples that Allen uses to describe the place of complementary opposition in the lives of people in Sonqo? How does their worldview differ from your world view?
Their world view sustains a natural influence believing that most of
Inanimate objects that are messed with sustain consequences
Men and women have similar relationships through the use of work.
"Ung publik tar in sol och musik", Kungsträdgård...
English: Picture of Bronislaw Malinowski with nati...
Professor of Anthropology IMAGELIBRARY/721 Persist...Widower are destroyed and wont be able to maintain a working mind
Married individuals sustain a well worked relationships
Pachamama is alive = recognition is required when earth is harmed
Sami (underpins the entire novel)
- Animating essence or energy and ALL ANDEAN RITUALS are aimed at holding, controlling and directing the flow of sami.
- Great circulatory system = water, light, living, dead and interaction with others.
- Abstract idea - materially manifested but what's different? People don't posses sami rather something that passes through. Fundamental to their worldview
- controlling, holding and directing the flow = rituals
Key dimensions of the Quecha worldview
Complementarity
Both are needed to become a unity...