Argonauts of the Western Pacific by Bronislaw Malinowski

Bronislaw Malinowski and Anthropology In 1910 Bronislaw Malinowski came to London, England. Almost instantly he fell in love with the city and its social structure. He was fascinated by the aristocracy and wanted to be a part of this elite class but he lacked financial capability so he provided the only thing he can offer, his great intellect. He attended the London School of Economics and immersed himself into the field of Anthropology. It was during this time that Anthropology was considered to be an inexact science best studied at a distance due what the nature of their subjects, who they consider as “savages”. As Malinowski began his study of Anthropology, specifically the Australian Aborigines, he found out that the accounts of previous anthropologists were inconclusive, prejudiced and needed a strong dose of scientific discipline. In 1914, he was given the chance to travel and go on a grand tour of Australia and its territories. After three months of travelling, he reached Papua New Guinea and at its east coast, he was able to reach the Trobriand Islands. It is here that he would build his legacy as the father of modern anthropology. The Natives of the Trobriand Islands
In his book The Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Bronislaw Malinowski describes the striking features of the Trobriand natives “There are men and women of tall stature, fine bearing and delicate features, with clear cut aquiline profile and high foreheads, well-formed nose and chin, and an open, intelligent expression” Then there are also others who have “prognatic, negroid faces, broad thick lipped mouths, narrow foreheads and a coarse expression.” They wear various colorful ornaments, belts and armlets consisting of fibers, flowers, shells and herbs. They also have an established social structure wherein the Trobrianders acknowledge rand and social differentiation. Some of the natives are given higher rank and given their positions, show excellent manners towards others. Women with higher positions of power behave differently and are treated better than both males and females with lower ranks. They do not discriminate women and they have their own way and control several aspects of tribal life. In short, they have a matrilineal culture. Malinowski also observed that the Trobrianders have an interest in gardening, magic and trading.

Malinowski’s Methods Initially, Malinowski did not engage himself with the local islanders. What he did was to first gather an audience around him and engage himself in conversation. However, this type of approach failed miserably mainly because of language limitations. He then tried to use another approach and that is to acquire the names and concepts of various tribe items and materials and certain data of the villages along with its stories. He began collecting concrete data such as village census, wrote down family genealogies, drew up plans of the villages and collected terms of kinship. He tried obtaining ideas and stories on their religion, beliefs, traditions and behaviors but was unsuccessful due to more communication problems. Malinowski also began asking local colonists about the natives of the area. What he found out was that despite the fact that these “white residents” or local colonists lived alongside the natives for quite some time, their observations, are what he states as “untrained, biased, inconsistent and unaccustomed to thinking consistently”.
Because of these early setbacks, he asked himself “how can I overtake these white residents [who have lived there for many years]?” He began devising a methodology that consists of three headings. First, the student/researcher must possess real scientific aims in his study. Second, the person has to put himself in good working conditions. In Malinowski’s case, he has to live away from the local colonists and live among the natives. Lastly, a number of methods of collecting, manipulating and fixing evidences must be applied in order to maintain scientific discipline.
These methods paved the way towards the ethnography we know today.

Malinowski’s Experiences Malinowski watched an ancient customary celebration called the Yoba at the start of his study of the natives of the Trobriand Islands. Everyone Malinowski asked said that this Yoba is a sacred ceremony the purpose of which is to drive away spirits called the Baloma from the villages. In the ceremony, the Baloma are offered parting presents called the Taloi. There is a formal Taloi presented at the beginning of the ceremony but, it is what happens afterwards that surprised Malinowski. Adolescents and children take rotten fruits and throw them around with a lot of laughter, along with impolite remarks. This blew Malinowski away since it is against what he knows about the sanctity of the ceremony.
He realized that he needs to get a closer look to native life to capture its essence. He immediately gave up his lodgings among the local colonists and pitched a tent in the jungle, right among the natives. He would immerse himself in every detail of Trobriand life in order to get to the truth of their culture. Malinowski said that:

As the natives see me every day. they stopped being interested or alarmed or even self-conscious in my presence. I’ve become part and parcel of their life. By living with the natives and taking part in village life, I am learning the natives’ point of view, his relation towards life and his vision of the world. In 1914, World War I erupted in Europe, preventing Malinowski from going back to England. He was forced into isolation but, this gave him time to learn more and dive deeper into the truth of Trobriand culture. With an increase in his time within the island, he developed a close relationship with the natives. For instance, he was fascinated with the women, particularly this one woman that caught his eye even saying that “at times I’m sorry I was not a savage and I could not possess this little animal”. Six months after arriving, he began to study an ancient tradition that would be the highlight of his stay. He noticed that every few months, islanders would build fleets of elaborately decorated canoes as part of the tradition of Kula. The Kula is a form of extensive inter-tribal exchange among closely-knit communities in the islands. The Kula extends across the vast ocean. The visitors brought by Kula are greeted with great feasts upon their arrival to another island. Malinowski was amazed by the risks the islanders were willing to take for the sake of Kula, which he himself experienced. He mentioned the possibility of being captured, killed an even eaten by unknown villages and the danger of travelling the seas.
He observed that apparently, the rewards for these treacherous voyages are flimsy shell trinkets such as arm shells called Mwali and necklaces called Soulava. It seemed so worthless and pointless so this got him curious. What is it about Kula that makes the natives risk so much? He observed Kula at every angle by interviewing the locals and watching the rituals. The information he acquired showed complex and sophisticated rituals behind it. He found out that: 1) Only important men can take part of Kula, 2) It is almost exclusive to tribal chiefs, 3) The Kula connects these people to others outside of the Trobriand Islands, and finally 4) The shell trinkets were at the center of the Kula Tradition.
Malinowski found out that the purpose of the Kula was to establish relationships with other people. The shell trinkets serve as the means to create these ties. The value of the trinkets comes from the rich and unique history behind each as it passes from one Kula participant to another and from one community to another. It also serves as a symbol of power and prestige. Malinowski then realizes that the Kula is actually far from pointless and unnecessary. It plays an important role on Trobriand society as it reinforces the status of the rich and the powerful. Conclusion The methods implemented by Malinowski in Papua New Guinea paved the way for the development of modern anthropology. What he found out about the Trobriand islanders changed the misconceptions on the so-called savages. It turns out that these “savages” are more than just about magic, hunting, and simple gathering but rather they have their own systems of trade, status, and beliefs that are quite complicated in their own right. For instance, every man knows what is expected of him based on his position, his status, within the community or the elaborate rituals they do for the sake of Kula are definitely not simple savagery.
The time he spent observing the natives resulted to a more accurate understanding of Socio-Anthropology in general and also the truths behind various cultures. Malinowski emphasized the importance of detailed participant observation and argued that anthropologists must have daily contact with their subjects if they are to understand the truth behind a different culture. His influence and contributions to the field has become an essential tool in a more disciplined approach to Anthropology.