Written by Katin for IPCRESS Blog
I remember watching this old black-and-white film clip. It was from the era of the First World War and recorded a small team of explorers as they were being led into a village on some remote South Pacific island. It was very grainy, had no sound, and was hardly a minute long. The villagers had gathered around in a semi-circle while the white men, dressed in their khakis stood in front of them. This was the first time these cultures had ever met and no one spoke the other’s language. One of the white men steps out of the frame and returns very quickly with a pig. As the villagers watch, one of the explorers raises his rifle and with one shot, kills the pig instantly. The villagers all jump and stare at the pig as it falls to the ground. Then they all turn to see the white men and notice that the pig had been killed with this strange smoking stick they carried. This was their first lesson, and one which they knew they shouldn’t forget.
