Amazon Town Tv

Amazon Town TV

In 1983, anthropologist Richard Pace began his fieldwork in the Amazonian community of Gurupa one year after the first few television sets arrived. On a nightly basis, as the community's electricity was turned on, he observed crowds of people lining up outside open windows or doors of the few homes possessing TV sets, intent on catching a glimpse of this fascinating novelty. Stoic, mute, and completely absorbed, they stood for hours contemplating every message and image presented. So begins the cultural turning point that is the basis of Amazon Town TV, a rich analysis of Gurupa in the decades during and following the spread of television. Pace worked with sociologist Brian Hinote to explore the sociocultural implications of television's introduction in this community long isolated by geographic and communication barriers. They explore how viewers change their daily routines to watch the medium; how viewers accept, miss, ignore, negotiate, and resist media messages; and how television's influence works within the local cultural context to modify social identities, consumption patterns, and worldviews.

The Amazon

The Amazon is one of the most exotic, mythical, and famous regions of the globe and the ultimate destination for explorers. Much of the region remains incompletely charted, while the discovery of new species in the Amazon jungle makes it the best place on earth to observe the wonders and diversity of evolution first-hand. A detailed, illustrated natural history section is dedicated to the secret life of Amazon plants, animals of the "Emerald Forest", and the water world of the river basin. Under constant battle against commercial encroachment, travelers are advised how to keeping their own impact on The Amazon to a minimum with guidelines on eco-tourism. A thorough background on the indigenous tribes and settlers helps provide a complete understanding of the region's peoples.

World Communication