A masterpiece of Pueblo Indian mythology; now in a restored editionEdward Proctor Hunt; a Pueblo Indian man; was born in 1861 in the mesa-top village of Acoma; New Mexico; and initiated into several secret societies; only to later break with his people’s social and reliÂgious codes. In 1928; he recited his version of the origin myth of the Acoma Indians to Smithsonian Institution scholars. Hailed by many as the most accessible of all epic narratives recounting a classic Pueblo Indian story of creation; migration; and ultiÂmate residence; the myth offers a unique window into Pueblo Indian cosmology and ancient history; revealing how a premodern society answered key existential questions and formed its customs. In this new edition; Peter Nabokov renders this important document into a clear sequence; adds excerpted material from the original storytelling sessions; and explores the creation and roles of such myths in Pueblo Indian cultures. The remarkable life of Edward Hunt is the subject of Peter Nabokov’s companion volume; How the World Moves; which follows Hunt and his sons on their passage from tradition to modernity as they strike out as native entrepreneurs and travelling interpreters of American Indian lore.
#4708495 in Books 2009-03-24 2009-03-24Format: International EditionOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.00 x 6.00l; 1.15 #File Name: 0143056557408 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy LouiseI happened to come across Richard Poplak's "The Sheikh's Batmobile" at a local used book store a while back. It wasn't a book I was familiar with but the cover looked interesting enough and I decided to take the gamble. I'm genuinely glad I did as I found Poplak's writing to be some of the most insightful; nuanced and entertaining commentary on the Islamic world that I've read to date.A pop culture commentator by trade; Poplak visits nearly 20 Muslim-majority countries over the span of two years in the hopes of viewing firsthand how the Western pop culture he loves has found its way to; and uniquely ingrained itself in; the Dar al-Islam.Perhaps Poplak's greatest accomplishment was his ability to humanize those he encountered. He refuses to fall into the easy but tired; Orientalist stereotypes and one-dimensional characters that many Middle East observers; intentionally or otherwise; so often seem to do. Throughout "The Sheikh's Batmobile;" from Libya to Indonesia and a lot of places in between; the author finds the similarities that bind us far more than the differences that divide our cultures.In times of such turmoil Poplak's work reads as a refreshing reminder of our common; shared humanity.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A little uneven; but ultimately worth whileBy Keith BoyeaThe Sheikh's Batmobile is part travelogue; part cultural investigation; and part personal exploration. Mr. Poplak visits several Muslim countries searching for the consequences of the hegemony of Western popular cultural in the region. I'm not quite sure that's right though: It is almost as if he is exploring how Western popular culture manifests itself in Egypt; Lebanon; Syria; the UAE; Indonesia; Iran; Afghanistan; and others (I know I'm missing a few.)The book is often funny; and Mr. Poplak has a penchant for finding the humor and absurdity in the ways in which American popular culture is twisted; changed; and manipulated in the Muslim world. The best chapters are the ones on the Arabic version of the Simpsons and the WWE loving kids in Afghanistan.Some of the chapters are a little less interesting--the death metal scene in Indonesia sticks out as one of these--but the book does a fairly good job of presenting the issue. One scene in particular stuck out for me: The author was discussing the Arabic version of the Simpsons with the producer. The Arabic version scrubbed out some of the social commentary that makes the Simpsons so funny and popular in the United States. The Arabic producer asked the author (I'm paraphrasing here) "Is that all we have; entertainment?"I've been asking myself that question many times since reading it; especially in the face of the upcoming royal wedding; Donald Trump; and the other inanities presented to us as news. It is surprising--I found an insight to our own culture in a book trying to find insights in how our culture impacts Muslim culture.
