Tribes, Trials & Tribulations

A documentary called 'Perdidos en la tribu' (Lost in the Tribe) has accumulated a whole string of complaints and severe criticism in Spain, after only 2 episodes of ten (I think) had been shown. It recorded 3 Spanish families who travelled right into the hearts of some tribes in Africa and Indonesia, to live amongst them, and learned to adapt themselves to their customs and ways of life.

Responsible anthropologists and the sensitive NGO (Non Governmental Organization) have since been screaming out loud to the sky, accusing TV4 of denigrating the natives with shameless and disrespectful treatment, twisting and trifling the reality of these tribes. The complaints also sustained that the tribesmen were repulsively disguised to reinforce the topic, and what was supposed to be their natural habitats were in fact vulgar film sets designed to make a spectacle and degrade their homes.

In an ideal world, these arguments could sustain, but we are talking about television. From the first minutes of the episode, it's clear there existed doubts, but amazingly audience usually choose to believe what's shown to them as reality, whether it's a serious programme or those that denounce whatever. We must all know that for every minute of any action on the screen, there's always the presence of cameras, and a whole team of technicians, the cable guy, the battery handlers, the make-up man or girl, the prompt person, the prop man. Even the tribesmen know they are 'acting' surely.

'Lost in the tribe' is not a respectful, philanthropical or anthological adventure. It's another common and vulgar show that recycled reality to transform it into a spectacle. Same with many other shows, informative programmes included, exploiting the sensational, the scandalous, the outrageous; manipulates and disguises context to favour political or financial interests.

My doubt or question is: why do we insist on attributing to the tribe's people an innocence which we presume we have lost a long time ago, and thus convert us in theory to be superior? If we are so proud of our audiovisual progress, won't it be logical to assume that any native of any tribe taking part in the production, have the right to share, for assuming the tricks laid on them and ridiculous rolls they played, the benefits of the pie?

Tags:Tribes,Trials,Tribulations

Current Mood: Anxious