Gabrielle
Hunt
28
March 2012
Space
Trilogy 2
Xeno-anthropology
When Dr. Ransom meets a hross
for the first time, he is taken aback, because he is comparing (insert name) to
human Earth culture and it is strange to him to find something so non-human to
be his equal in intelligence. When he mentally switches over to comparing the creature
before him to domesticated Earth animals, he is instantly more comfortable with
the situation, because he’s used to being superior to dogs or cats. This
ethnocentric attitude initially colors his interactions with the hross, but
eventually he overcomes this contextually-evolved trait and becomes a true
anthropologist living in the culture of the hross.
As Ransom adapts to their
culture, he slowly learns to value them for who they are, without having to
make comparisons to the inhabitants of earth any more than is necessary for the
readers to have an accurate account of the tale. He spends time with all
members of the village of hross he is brought to, the children, the men, and
the women. He learns about all facets of hross culture without being intrusive
or demanding. He treats the hross with respect both while they are patiently
explaining things about their culture and the world they live in to him, and
while Ransom is trying to explain his world to them.
Unlike many anthropologists of
Earth, Ransom never attempts to force human values or morals on the hross. He
never tries to convert them to his religion or tell them the way they live
their lives is wrong, even though it’s different than the way humans live.
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