Ancient Culture: People

In this video tour of some of the world's indigenous cultures, viewers are treated to bite-sized vignettes of the unique qualities, habits, and habitats of humans around the planet, starting in Africa and working around the globe to North America (where Inuits and Navajo are featured) and many places in between, including central Asia, India, Iraq, Japan, Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island, South America, and more. Each segment begins with a contextual slide providing information (name of the country or continent, primary religions, geographic size, and population), after which voiceover narration and stunning footage from the BBC Motion Gallery are combined to tell the story. Religious practices are given special attention, as are creative uses of abundant resources (such as the reeds in Mesopotamia) or impressive adaptability in areas that appear to be barren (such as Australia's outback). Sharp writing accompanies the sometimes quick visuals; in one instance, the narrator says the Japanese give freshness (referring to sushi) a new meaning at the same moment a severed fish head on a beautifully arranged plate of food flares its gills! This, along with shots of Australian Aborigines eating large grubs, may deter the squeamish, but for those seeking glimpses of cultural diversity beyond the familiar, this will be most welcome. Highly recommended. [Note: also newly available is Ancient Culture: Sites.] Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block)