XREVEX Reverse Exploration

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Have you ever wondered how we must seem to other cultures?

"Remote and unknown, this tribe is the most extraordinary we have ever observed. Well proportioned, the inhabitants in this country are big and active. The Paris clans, The Grenoble clans and the Bordeaux clans speak languages very different from one another. But they all consider themselves amongst what is known as the French tribe." - Mudeya Kepanga, Papuan explorer, Paris January 2006.

After ten years exploring the tribes of Papua New Guinea, French photographer Marc Dozier formed a close bond with the Papuans from the Highlands and mastered their language. Two of the warriors he was closest with are called Polobi Palia and Mudeya Kepanga.

To repay the hospitality, Marc invited the two to visit his homeland of France. This reverse exploration, motivated by great curiosity and friendship, offers the explorers Polobi & Mudeya the unique opportunity to discover what it means to be French. Their observations, from a completely opposite cultural basis, reveal much about both worlds.

Yes, I have often wondered, too.

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These two pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago—the artifacts are permanent and not associated with this particular time of year—but with more and more semiotic messages for Hallowe'en appearing around the neighborhood, I wonder what Papuan anthropologists would make of the displays. Last evening, I passed an ornamental bush in the front garden of a house: to my astonishment it was bundled up in day-glo green netting!

I was puzzled, wondering if it was to keep the birds from stealing the fruit; I had observed the bush a few evenings before but had not noticed any fruit. If defense against birds had been the purpose of the netting then it must be rare and precious fruit because around here pomegranates, grapes, plums, apples, and pears not growing on trees in orchards are left to rot on the branches and vines. I posited frost protection as a second possibility; although the days are still warm and sunny, clear skies means that a nip of frost cannot be far away.

Doh! Then it struck me. It was intended to represent spider webs for Hallowe'en decoration. I have no further comment to make.

Halloween

Thanks to halloweenpress.blogspot.com for the timely decorations.

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The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

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