Anthropology Research: Hopi Songs of the Fourth World (Essay Sample)

Hopi Songs of the Fourth World
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Hopi Songs of the Fourth World
The subjects in the film use a blend of cinematography styles to pass the message to viewers: observation of day-to-day traditions and behaviors; taking photos of the natural scene displaying the Hopi environment; English and the Hopi local language is used as soundtrack in the film. At the initial stage of the film, a spider grandmother is making the world and an eagle hovering in the air. The film records the spirituality of the Hopi people. Furthermore, it reveals the integration of art and their day-to-day life. In the movie, a farmer, grandmother, artists and a religious elder speaks about the conservation of Hopi culture. The Hopi have endured the droughts because they are survivors and they even raise corn without irrigation (Ferrero 2015, p.89).
The corns have alluring colors of blue, red and yellow which makes the film appealing. The life cycle of the corn plant involves cooperation between the ears of corn and the corn itself. The ears of corn are given corn mothers for protection throughout its life until it reaches maturity. The women are also seen weaving traditional baskets and creating pottery to hold corn (Shaul 2012, p.189).
The film traces the way of life of the Hopi people. The dedication to raising corn without water supply shows that they are hard working. Corn has been the primary source of nourishment for a thousand years. Corn plant has been used as imagery to represent the life of the people from birth to death. The people are “rooted” in their fields (Courlander 2013, p.56). 
The Hopi wedding represents the ability to give life just like the beautiful colors of corn adorn the spouse. The children are given the ears of corn to instill the life of corn plant in them. Young children pay attention to the songs in the field and learn how to sing them just the same way the corn is raised. The children learn by cooperating and not submitting to the orders. The songs are sung to bring the life-giving rain. The women who grind corn, keep seed and make baskets for storage are the givers and keepers of life (Malotki & Gary 2012, pp. 35-37). 
The film reaches the critical component in the life cycle of the Hopi with death. The dead converts into supernatural being known as Kachinas who in turn become clouds that fall as rain to sustain plants or impersonates as goddesses in the Kachina dances. Such ritual dances inspire the stages of growth. The presence of clowns makes people ha...