Lecture Notes: Tribal Wisdom and Modern Society

Introduction

• Speaker: David Mabry Lewis
• Theme: Seeking tribal wisdom for the modern world
• Key Questions:
  • When are you rich?
  • When are you poor?

Concepts of Wealth

• Indonesian perspective:
  • Wealth is measured in favors owed and relationships, not material possessions.
• African perspective:
  • Emphasizes the value of giving.

O. Henry's Story

• "The Gifts of the Magi": A story about love and sacrifice.
• Key Message: Relationships are more important than material gifts.
• Comparison: Tribal societies prioritize relationships; in the West, material possessions often take precedence.

The Marketplace System

• In Western societies:
  • Things often become more important than relationships.
  • Symbols are prioritized over their meanings.
  • The medium becomes the message, a concept likened to idolatry.
• Advertising: Convinces that material things can satisfy the need for relationships.

Joe's Story

• A garbage man in a materialistic society:
  • Observes wastefulness and lack of appreciation for possessions.
  • Considers family and health as his true wealth.
  • Parallels with Wijewa tribe's proverb: "I am given love at the price of all else, so I give to be rich."

Lendi Batu's Ritual

• Sumba island tradition:
  • Rituals for honoring ancestors involve community effort.
  • The process involves a communal task of moving a 25-ton stone.
  • Highlights the importance of community and shared effort over individualism.
  • Wealth is measured in people, not possessions.

Influence of Modern World

• Dutch influence in Indonesia:
  • Introduction of trade and individualism.
  • Shift from communal values to materialistic values in some areas.

Modern Banking

• Origins in Holland (1609):
  • Shift from tangible money to checks and credit.
  • Resulted in a society of strangers, focused on material wealth.
• Banks as modern churches:
  • Rituals and reverence compared to religious experiences.

The Gabra Tribe's Way

• Values of sharing and community:
  • Riches measured not in possessions, but in the willingness to share.
  • The notion that a poor person shames the community.

Consumer Society and Advertising

• Role of advertising:
  • Creates desires for unnecessary products.
  • Reflects societal trends and influences social norms.
• Modern society challenges:
  • Material possessions over personal values.
  • The potential need for societal change or revolution.

Potential Futures

• Two paths for the future:
  • Prioritizing care for people and planet.
  • Continued emphasis on material wealth, leading to commodification of people.
• The hope for revolution: A shift back to values that prioritize human connection and shared wealth.

Conclusion

• The lecture explores the contrasting views on wealth and society between tribal wisdom and modern consumerism.
• Emphasis on re-evaluating current societal values and potentially embracing more sustainable and communal approaches.