Povratak Napoleona Šanjona - o američkim 'kaubojima' i amazonijskim Indijancima ponovo

Abstract

Neposredan povod za pisanje ovog teksta je ponovna aktuelnost kontroverznog antropologa Napoleona Šanjona, čije su ime, naučni rad i autoritet (ili sumnje u isti) najtešnje povezani sa plemenskim društvom Indijanaca Janomama u Južnoj Americi. Sliku o 'paleolitsko-neolitskoj' ratničkoj kulturi Janomama u savremenom svetu, koju je američki antropolog konstruisao u svojim knjigama i etnografskim filmovima, prihvatili su milioni ljudi širom sveta, uključujući i pripadnike zajednica Janomama. Krajem 20. i početkom 21. veka, emitovana slika sa efektom bumeranga po njenog tvorca, njegove etnografske subjekte i matičnu disciplinu, počela se raspadati. O tim kontroverzama govori ovaj tekst.

The immediate motive for the writing of this paper is the renewed interest in the controversial anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon, whose name, scientific work and authority (or the dubious value thereof) is firmly linked to the Yanomami people of South America. The image of the 'paleolithic -neolithic' warrior culture of the Yanomami in the contemporary world, which was construed by the American anthropologist through his books and ethnographic films, was received by millions of people all over the world, including members of the Yanomami community. At the turn of the 21st century, this image - backfired at its author, his ethnographic subjects and the discipline itself, and began to disintegrate. The ensuing controversies are the topic of this paper.