Center Two—Ethnocentrisms and The Gods Must Be Crazy
Deeper Reading and Deeper Viewing
Directions: Read the Article on Blackboard entitled “The ‘Ethnocentric Me” Culture.”
Answer the following questions based on the article and your viewing of The Gods Must Be
Crazy. You may discuss with your partner or group, but the answers must be completed on
your own.
Words to define: Define these either in context or using a dictionary. The definition must fit
in the context of the sentence.
1. Ethnocentrism
the belief in the inherent superiority of one's ownethnic group or cu
lture.
2. Prevalent
widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use oracce
ptance.
3. Peripheral
of, relating to, or situated on the edge or periphery of
something.
4. Imperialism
the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire ornatio
n over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holdingcolonies and
dependencies.
5. Primitive
being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence, especially in
an early age of the world
6. Attribute
7.
8.
9.
10.
to regard as resulting from a specified cause; consider ascaused
by something indicated
Virtue
moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
Vice an immoral or evil habit or practice
Dichotomy
division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves orpair
s.
11. Inclusion Containing a part or element.
12. Ingrained firmly fixed; deep-rooted; inveterate
13. Hinders
to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede:
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
1. What do people think when others around you are speaking a language that the
people do not understand? “I think that they are talking about me.”
2. What did William Sumner mean when he coined the term “ethnocentrism”? he
was referring to the prevalent belief that one’s own ethnic group
or culture is considered central, while other cultures or religious
traditions are reduced to play peripheral roles.
Center Two—Ethnocentrisms and The Gods Must Be Crazy
Deeper Reading and Deeper Viewing
3. What do ethnocentric individuals unconsciously believe? Ethnocentric
individuals unconsciously believe that their culture is superior to
other cultures, that their ways of thinking and living are the
best.
What are events in history that ethnocentrism caused? Imperialism, the practice of
taking over other lands, and colonialism were heavily practiced by
Europe starting in the 16th century, in Africa and in the Americas.
During Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler decided that he hated Jews and
other groups and held them tragically in concentration camps.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
4. What does the author mean when he says “We develop the exclusive dichotomy
“friend or foe,” “us and them,” “for us or again us. . . ”? We generally attribute
virtue to people similar to ourselves and vice to people from
different ethnic groups.
5. Why is ethnocentrism a bad thing for a politician to have? Ethnocentrism is
bad for a politician to have because they are supposed to
represent everyone.
6. Why does the author put “universal” in quotation marks in paragraph three? The
cultural standards are not really universal, ethnocentric people
just believe they are.
WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
7. Give 3 examples of ethnocentrism as it is shown in The Gods must be Crazy.” An
example is when the Bushmen was being tried, the laws were
imposed on him even though he did not understand them.
8. In the film, which society seems more civilized—Xi or the “civilized” people he
encounters? Explain your thoughts. The Xi seemed more civilized
because they lived a simple life until the Coke bottle from
modern society came into their life.
9. What does the film excerpt reveal about “civilization”? Explain. Complex
civilizations are not always more “civilized”.
10. What might the film’s title mean? Who are “the gods”? Why must they be “crazy”?
Explain fully and give support from the excerpt. “The gods” are the
“civilized” people that Xi encounters. They must be “crazy”
because they do strange things such as ride in cars.
11. As the article states, “Ethnocentrism occurs everywhere and every day at local
communities and at all organization and in politics.” Give an example of
ethnocentrism you have witnessed yourself (either something you did or believed
yourself or something you saw in others). Why is ethnocentrism something we
should be aware of? Explain fully. Racism in schools is usually
Center Two—Ethnocentrisms and The Gods Must Be Crazy
Deeper Reading and Deeper Viewing
ethnocentric. One person believes that their culture or ethnic
group is better than everyone else.