Cargo Cults of Melanesia (Free Lesson)

The Cargo Cults of Melanesia make a fascinating case study (RLS) for AoK Human Sciences, Knowledge & Technology, and Knowledge & Indigenous Societies.

I've been using this case study for a few years, and I've found that it really helps to give the students a sense of the reality of knowledge construction.

Obviously the use of this case study has the potential to produce concerns of 'othering' - the treatment of apparent difference as the central defining feature of a person / group of people. I think that the best way to ward against this is to discuss the danger of othering with the students, that is to raise the awareness of normalisation of self and treating those beyond our perceived in-group as other.

I have always felt a little uneasy about the inclusion of "Indigenous Societies" on the ToK Syllabus. However, I can see the benefits of studying non-industrial societies in order to improve our own understanding of knowledge construction.

(free) Lesson Resources !

A link to resources & activities is here: https://sites.google.com/.../the.../cargo-cults-polynesia

More on the Cargo Cults can be found in this Scientific American article, and this article from The Guardian.