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Clip description
Narrator Ian McLaren explains how filmmaker Ian Dunlop was invited to film the initiation ritual of the Baruya people. Dunlop speaks about artistic energy and ceremonies, and initiation being the most important ceremony. He details the harsh circumstances young men must endure throughout the initiation process.
Curator’s notes
Dunlop was asked to record the ceremony by French anthropologist Maurice Godelier. It’s fascinating to hear about the initiation ceremony and how Dunlop dealt with filming the secret ceremony. The secrecy of the ceremony was morally problematic when filming. Dunlop included the Baruya elders in the process of precisely documenting the rituals, what happened to the footage and the restrictions on viewing the material. To select just bits and pieces of the ceremony from 13 hours of film is a huge responsibility for a filmmaker.
