article

The breadfruit tree story: mythological transformations in Palauan politics

Pacific studies15 (4)Published In 1992 • Pages: 235-260

By: Nero, Karen L..

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This paper discusses the role of traditional Belauan stories and mythologies in contemporary politics of the islands. Based on analyses of election billboards with symbols relating to the Belauan breadfruit tree story which were in the past set aside for the bai (meeting houses and councils of powerful clan chiefs), the author explores the ways artistic productions are used by contemporary politicians as key symbols for easily connecting the past and the present.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Verbal arts
Visual arts
Mnemonic devices
External relations
Political movements
Elections
Cultural identity and pride
Political parties
Mythology
Status, role, and prestige
Traditional history
Acculturation and culture contact
Sociocultural trends
cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Belau
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2010
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Oceania
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Micronesia
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
article
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Anthropologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
Teferi Abate Adem; 2009
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1979-1989
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
1914-1992
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Republic of Belau
NotesAdditional notes
Karen L. Nero
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
84643929
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Palauans