Cannibalism the Idea Essay

Submitted By tinababcock
Words: 1162
Pages: 5
Open Document
Christina Babcock
Mr. Gubellini
Nov. 25th, 2013
Sociology H
Cannibalism

The idea of eating human flesh by other human beings has been around for quite some time, and is now commonly known as cannibalism. The technical term for cannibalism is anthropophagy, which comes from anthropos meaning "human being" and phagein meaning "to eat". When and where cannibalism was started is not known, but there are many stories, writings, and first hand accounts which prove that it is real. The practice known as cannibalism is wide spread from century to century and through many different cultures. "In many cultures, it is considered atrocious and sacrilegious, whereas in another culture it is a sacred and revered custom. " (Bell, Cannibalism: The Ancient) Cannibalism was once described as "Black Humour" which is body fluids that Hippocrates believed caused moods, emotions, and behaviors that filled the ventricle and caused hunger for human body parts. (Soniak, "Mmmm, Brains") However, we now have more knowledge about this topic. After reading Paleoanthropologist's studies I have learned that Neanderthals were devouring others flesh as far back as 100,000 years ago. (Soniak, "Mmmm, Brains") American anthropologist Marvin Harris believes, " Cannibalism was a common practice for humans living in small groups." He also added that once groups grew, population increased, and states began to develop it disappeared. However, cannibalism did become frowned upon in most cultures by the 19th century, with the exception of a few societies in the South Pacific. (Soniak, "Mmmm, Brains") Now a days there is very few circumstances where eating flesh happens, but there has been a few recorded incidents including one person or a small group within the last 20 years. There are two main kinds of anthropophagy, survival cannibalism, and learned cannibalism. Survival cannibalism is generally the most accepted by society, although it is still considered a taboo. In life or death situations eating someone else to survive, or even your own flesh may seem like the right thing to do. "Survival cannibalism is what's about to happen whenever you see two cartoon characters stuck in a life raft and one of them has a thought balloon above their head depicting the other one with a roast chicken for a body." (Soniak, "Mmmm, Brains"). One commonly known example of this, from the movie Alive, is the 1972 plane crash that stranded players and family of a Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes Mountains . Some people died from the initial crash and those that did not ate the deceased. Those that didn't eat the human flesh starved to death, and of the 45 people who boarded that plane only 16 survived. This is a perfect example of a desperate situation in which resorting to cannibalism is rather easy to accept. However, "Survival cannibalism is rare and explicable in many cases, yet is still an act that is often punishable by law" ( Bell, Chapter 3). Even though those people had no choice but to eat those who died to stay alive they can still face consequences. Learned or customary cannibalism is an entirely different story. The title is self explanatory, this kind of anthropophagy is "the consumption of human flesh in a socially prescribed, ritualized manner, often passed down through the generations." (Soniak, "Mmmm Brains") Also, customary cannibalism can be divided into two parts endo- and exocannibalism. Endocannibalism is the eating of body parts of a parson who is a member of the same group, family, tribe, society etc. , often as a part of a funeral ceremony. For example an Amazon tribe named "The Wari" uses cannibalism during funeral rites to transform their ancestors into spirits. A spirit becomes an animal to give food to an ancestor's descendants. Exocannibalism is the opposite of endo-cannibalism. People who participate in exo-cannibalism consume flesh of people outside of their own group. It is often used as a threat or way of domination. For
Show More

Related Documents: Cannibalism the Idea Essay

The Role Of Cannibalism In Ancient Civilizations

Evidence of cannibalism has been found in the cultures of numerous ancient civilizations, some of which include Egypt, China, and the Aztecs. In today’s society most people find the idea of cannibalism to be rather disturbing, however, it played an important role within the societies of many ancient cultures. Cannibalism still exists to an extent today, however, most modern civilizations view the consumption of human flesh as immoral or psychotic. While there isn’t a lot of information known on why…

Words 400 - Pages 2

The Taste of Cannabolism Essay

The Taste of Cannibalism “I was thinking of tying her body onto some kind of apparatus…cook her over low heat …keep her alive as long as possible” the gruesome thoughts of New York City police officer Gilberto Valle. He was recently found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to kidnap and for illegal use of federal databases. If in fact he would have been able to execute his plan and achieve such a horrifying and immorally indecent act the commitment of murder would have totally…

Words 1301 - Pages 6

Cannibalism Essay

Cannibalism is the consumption of human flesh by other human beings. The concept of people eating other people is highly debatable, but it has been proven to occur throughout history. The word “cannibalism” comes from the Carib Indians of the West Indies, which were called “Caribales" or “Canibales” (Spier 543). The Spanish word “canibales” translates to thirsty and cruel in English. Another known term for cannibalism is the Latin form “anthropophagy” (Bell). Anthropophagy derives from the Greek…

Words 1531 - Pages 7

Maggie Kilgour's Cannibalism

their exoticness and rarity. Maggie Kilgour discusses the fundamental incentive behind one’s need to act on their curiosity when she presents the following statement “The focus on cannibalism today seems to reflect our current desire to renegotiate difference and relation with others in a multicultural world in which the idea of the ‘savage’ and, indeed even ‘nature’ is questioned” (viii). Whether it be considered deviant and appalling in American society, the cannibalistic process does not impede a…

Words 2280 - Pages 10

Brief Summary Cannibalism In The Yanomami Tribe

tribe. Cannibalism is the act of eating the flesh of humans. There are two major types of cannibalism, endocannibalism and exocannibalism.…

Words 1240 - Pages 5

Essay on Cannibalism: Cannibalism and Recorded History Cannibalism

Cannibalism: A demonized taboo Cannibalism disgusts many, the sheer thought of one human eating another is the fabric that the scariest fictional monsters and real life monsters are made from. That being said there is much more to cannibalism than the topical Hollywood versions and the versions that live as fears in the minds of many. The almost universal aversion to cannibalistic acts is unique in that it is such a strong taboo that it may seem to most as though cannibalism is unarguably vile…

Words 2315 - Pages 10

Religion In The Eucharist

In his teaching Jesus says that if they eat his the will live forever and never go hungry or thirsty which initially people were very draw to these ideas. What He meant was that we would live forever with him and heaven and that you will never go hungry in your desire for the presence of God. Once Jesus goes on the say that in order to this you must actually eat His body this is the point that many…

Words 652 - Pages 3

Analysis Of Cannibalism Among Dinosaurs

states in the article that there are at least 14 current day animals that still practice cannibalism such as lions, komodo dragons, crocodiles, hyenas, black bears and grasshopper mice, but in contrast, any evidence of cannibalism among dinosaurs is sparse. This article was also particularly interesting to me because this is a recent find and there is little to no literature published concerning the idea that dinosaurs may have been cannibals. This is a new fossil find in which makes any and all…

Words 1246 - Pages 5

The Enigma Of Aztec Sacrifice Summary

told the story of the men who witnessed it first hand, though, I began to wonder if maybe they actually did cannibalize. Then he began discussing the few herbivorous, domesticable animals in the area, and I thought “What does this have to do with cannibalism?” I had a bit of an ‘ah-ha!’ moment when he mentioned the lack of sufficient game in the area to support their nutritional needs, as well as the frequent famines that made living off of vegetables impossible, especially for a growing population…

Words 666 - Pages 3

Evil In Lord Of The Flies Analysis

to. To use a more historical example, Paul Fussell’s “Postscript on Japanese Skulls” describes a brutal practice by American soldiers that most people these days would consider inconceivable. Finally, Linh Kieu Ngo’s “Cannibalism: It Still Exists” explains the rationale of cannibalism-- an action of evil that many people are extremely hesitant to analyze. All of these works have one thing in common: They describe the evil things humans will do when the concepts of morality and humanity are lost in…

Words 1329 - Pages 6