ACM on tribal communities

Today I visited the Asian Civilizations Museum (ACM) in Singapore. I was very impressed by the style of the different galleries, the use of text, pictures, shortfilms, visual guides, storytellers, light, projections and the smart, claiming way to make that place interesting for every age and every sense. But I recognized especially one part of an exhibition-text I had to think about a few minutes and read again and again.

"Tribal communities have long been portrayed as primitive, exotic, and even subversive especially during times of interethnic strife or border conflicts. Today, although many tribal groups have lost much of their material culture, their strong oral traditions continue and they have found creative ways to adapt to the demands of mainstream society" (ACM/South-east gallery/Placard on Tribal South-east Asia/11.10.07).

I would like to know, if you ever read such a careful, but almost fitting circumscription on that million times discussed topic. Any complaints from the critical ethnologists? Ok, maybe the "mainstream", but this made me laugh in an anthropology museum, what was, I think, the first time in my life! And if you are not convinced, that these guys know how to write, what do you think abou that?

ACM's vision statement: "The Best Museum in Asia - Inspiring the Discovery of Selves & Others" (www.acm.org.sg)

..selves and others... It melts in the mouth!

I know you will find something. Don't dissapoint me nerds! Greetings from Singapore!

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