Sign in or 
Share this
Understanding Micronesia
HOGAN, Tom. Understanding Micronesia: A Cultural Guide for Researchers and Visitors. Penang, Malaysia: Southbound Sdn. Bhd. (55 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Penang, Malaysia), 2008. xii, 97 p. ISBN 978-983-9054-49-1, $15. Illus (b&w). Bib.
Tom Hogan presents one way to understand why, as he claims, Micronesians are often seen as reluctant to share information with others. He explains the term manaman, which is power, but specifically due to special knowledge. And a Micronesian might say “What if you were a powerful sorcerer? By sharing your sorcery you would be diluting your own manaman while strengthening that of your rival.” This and other anecdotal stories abound in Understanding Micronesia: A cultural guide for researchers and visitors.
This short book, the published, popularized version of a doctoral thesis from Macquarie University, is Tom Hogan’s attempt to shed light on the culture of Micronesia. It aims to enlighten visitors and outsiders on the particular quirks of this little known and isolated people. It takes the form of a review of ethnographic studies of Micronesia, alongside sometimes humorous personal anecdotes of the author’s experience working in the islands. It is highly readable and accessible to all audiences by design, not delving into the details of the ethnographic data.
Tom Hogan is a Senior Research Fellow at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. His PhD in Ethnography and Developing Country Broadcast Communications consisted of work in Micronesia, teaching Micronesians how to do radio broadcast, making visits to all of the Micronesian states except the Northern Marianas for broadcast consultation.
The content of the work is useful, and provides a colorful, if largely anecdotal, picture of the Micronesian culture. Part of its usefulness its direct focus on the interaction of Micronesia and Western culture. It provides a detailed reference list in the endnotes. The single illustration consists of a map of Micronesia. The addition of insets showing the various islands mentioned in the text would have been more helpful than the barely discernable overview. There is no index or glossary, which is a disappointment in a work that often mentions local terms and concepts that would be of interest to cross reference.
This is one of the few ethnographic works on Micronesian culture, and a useful starting place either to find further references or gain a broad understanding of how this culture might interact with the Western world. It is recommended for public libraries in communities with increasing Micronesian immigration or a large community, and in academic centers that collect Pacific island resources at the research level, especially in universities which offer studies in Pacific studies or communications.
Tom Hogan presents one way to understand why, as he claims, Micronesians are often seen as reluctant to share information with others. He explains the term manaman, which is power, but specifically due to special knowledge. And a Micronesian might say “What if you were a powerful sorcerer? By sharing your sorcery you would be diluting your own manaman while strengthening that of your rival.” This and other anecdotal stories abound in Understanding Micronesia: A cultural guide for researchers and visitors.
This short book, the published, popularized version of a doctoral thesis from Macquarie University, is Tom Hogan’s attempt to shed light on the culture of Micronesia. It aims to enlighten visitors and outsiders on the particular quirks of this little known and isolated people. It takes the form of a review of ethnographic studies of Micronesia, alongside sometimes humorous personal anecdotes of the author’s experience working in the islands. It is highly readable and accessible to all audiences by design, not delving into the details of the ethnographic data.
Tom Hogan is a Senior Research Fellow at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. His PhD in Ethnography and Developing Country Broadcast Communications consisted of work in Micronesia, teaching Micronesians how to do radio broadcast, making visits to all of the Micronesian states except the Northern Marianas for broadcast consultation.
The content of the work is useful, and provides a colorful, if largely anecdotal, picture of the Micronesian culture. Part of its usefulness its direct focus on the interaction of Micronesia and Western culture. It provides a detailed reference list in the endnotes. The single illustration consists of a map of Micronesia. The addition of insets showing the various islands mentioned in the text would have been more helpful than the barely discernable overview. There is no index or glossary, which is a disappointment in a work that often mentions local terms and concepts that would be of interest to cross reference.
This is one of the few ethnographic works on Micronesian culture, and a useful starting place either to find further references or gain a broad understanding of how this culture might interact with the Western world. It is recommended for public libraries in communities with increasing Micronesian immigration or a large community, and in academic centers that collect Pacific island resources at the research level, especially in universities which offer studies in Pacific studies or communications.
Submitted Fall 2009 by Jonathan Young, LIS Student
DrDrewHonolulu |
Latest page update: made by DrDrewHonolulu
, Oct 5 2009, 7:06 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by DrDrewHonolulu
9 words added 1 word deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
Keyword tags:
None
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
