ANTH Exam 2 - Zapotec_Winds of Ixtepeji Flashcards
Winds of Ixtepeji
in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico
-town in the late 1960’s, impoverished people
-corn is on the decline
-poor sanitation, leading to many diseases
-infestation of rodents also causing problems
Winds of Ixtepeji:
Author’s approach -
cogniive/ psychological anthropology
Winds of Ixtepeji:
Ethnography -
Book is an old school ethnography.
Who were the Zapotec and where did they live?
an indigenous pre-Columbian civilization that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in Mesoamerica
Zapotec:
What was the state of their Health?
- Parasite infection is greatest cause of death.
- Flies, rodents and water contamination cause problems
- No inside toilets. Horrible sanitation
Zapotec:
Feelings toward people around them -
Not fond of anyone outside their group.
Hate people from the Valley the most.
Zapotec:
What is a Comunero?
any adult member of the community; peasant farmers; Anyone can utilize any unoccupied land, hunt, cut wood, etc.
Zapotec:
What is a Cargo?
an elected office; age 18-60; presidente is the highest office and is the representative to the outside world
Zapotec:
What is a Principal?
Man who has served his time in a Cargo
What is a Presidente?
serves as the head of the municipal.
Zapotec concept of Aigre/Aire -
Full of evil spirits
-the main (supernatural) cause of illness; it’s invisible, yet in everything. It is everywhere, inescapable, mysterious
What are the 3 types of Aigre/Aire?
- Aigre Natural (natural air)
- Aigre Puesto (placed air)
- Aigre de hora (air of the hour)
What is Aigre natural?
Natural air: Came from a god
- least consequence. Natural sickness sent by god, inexpensive treatment.
What is Aigre puesto?
Placed Air: voodoo; Sent by an emery. Causes pain.
- Believe that people can manipulate placed air
What is Aigre de hora ?
Air of the hour
- inflicted by fire witches,
- transformed humans or evil spirits of the dead
- protects or punish towns people;
- associated with the night
- SOCIAL CONTROL
Zapotec:
What is La Llorona?
Symbol of family and interpersonal relations.
She was mother who drowned her children (used in enculturation)
- After she was abandoned by lover, she kills children in river.
-Trapped in air. Now her spirit harms men when they go out at night for bad
- They use her as a fictive character to frighten and condition children
Zapotec:
Conception of spirits -
Spirits, like air, are invisible, mysterious, inescapable. Concern & anxiety with spirits.
Zapotec:
What is Feast of all saints ?
spirits return to visit family and feast on the aromas and vapors of the food
Zapotec:
What is Susto?
Caused by frightening encounters. Children especially prone to Susto. Fear has scared the soul away- soul sickness.
Zapotec:
What is Mal Ojo?
The Evil Eye. An illness believed to occur when someone looks at you with envy or appreciation. More often in CHILDREN.
Zapotec:
What is Mala Muerte?
“Bad death”
- Sudden, unexpected, etc
- Spirits of these deaths are trapped in air and remain there. Air is getting worse.
Zapotec:
What is Engano and Desconfianza ?
“Deception and trickery”
- Establishes a community of distrust
- believed it is best to conceal your affairs from others so you cannot be deceived
- children are lied to from a very young agehers
How did the Zapotec discipline children?
Through threats, lies, deceit.
- no consistancy
- La larona
- they tried to frighten them
Zapotec:
How do they view Time?
Idolize the past. Weary of the future
Zapotec:
What is Chipil & Muina?
“Envy” and “Hostility”
Zapotec:
What is Chipil?
“Envy”
- Sibling rivalry.
- Results in envy because younger child is getting attention
Zapotec:
What is Muina?
“hostility”
- Results from envy/anger.
- causes bodily mutations, the person with muina can be dangerous;
- believe that eating or drinking while you have muina will poison the blood.
- SOCIAL CONTROL.
Zapotec:
Concept of Limited good -
Leveling act. If one has too much- taking away from another
Zapotec:
Concept of Destiny -
person born with a destiny- cannot change- can work to get potential
Zapotec:
What was the belief about drunkeness?
Themes of brotherhood, friendship, solidarity
- Drink Mezcal as a ritual
- Everyone must drink
- Be suspicious if you don’t drink
Zapotec:
What are the 3 stages of Drunkeness?
1) Monkey blood: Opening up, confidence, friendly
2) Lion’s blood: belligerent, argumentative
3) Pig blood: looses control, vomit, falls
Zapotec:
What is Monkey blood
first stage of drinking.
- Opening up, confidence, friendly
Zapotec:
What is Lion’s blood?
2nd stage of drinking
- belligerent, argumentative
Zapotec:
What is Pig blood?
3rd stage of drinking
- looses control, vomit, falls
Zapotec:
What types of alcohol did they drink and for what purpose?
-Beer: normal consumption
-Mescal (Tequila): drunk in ritual form (shots)
-Tepache: made from cactus. fermented
How did the Zapotec feel if someone refused to drink?
-Refusal of drink invitations creates superstition and unease amongst others open to drinking
What was the Zapotec worldview?
Viewed the world as harsh/hostile & supernatural
- believed it used to be better and is now just getting worse
Zaptotec:
How is Witchcraft used in society?
used as a leveling mechanism in order to keep everyone at the same level; stay modest and humble
Zapotec:
What do they believe about Destiny?
not good, inescapable, inevitable
