Power For Sale by Cecilia Lim

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26 July 2004	Maasai Mara National Reserve

Power For Sale

Masks that temporarily give "power" and status to those who wear them are made and worn by the Maasai during ceremonial dances and spiritual events. But now, they lie dormant, row upon row, reduced to bargain souvenirs to be bought and displayed in the homes of tourists.

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel

other sizes: small medium original auto

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comment |

Phil Douglis		02-Aug-2005 02:36
Sorry for the duplicate link below. I meant to attach this one:http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/20740541

Phil Douglis		02-Aug-2005 02:34
You make a poignant point with this image, Celia. Tradition turned to commerce. That is consistent with the touristic business all over the world. The original purpose is discarded and dormant, and as you say, now exists only in the eyes of the tourists who buy these things and take them home to show their friends. In a way, all of those dances, the jewelry, and now even the villages themselves are being put to commercial use. It reminds me of what has happened to the original meaning of the American Wild West, which now exists only in movies and reduced to souvenir shop trinkets. It is becoming harder and harder to find an authentic cultural experience as we travel. Everyone has now become an entrepreneur, as in your image of the Samburu lady athttp://www.pbase.com/cecilialim/image/46857032. Or my Madagascar saleswoman athttp://www.pbase.com/cecilialim/image/46857032

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