GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Island of New Ireland, east of New Guinea in the Bismark Archipelago, is covered by tropical rainforest and grassy plateaus. On the northern part of the island, rites for the dead consist of a funeral accompanied by a period of mourning, the nature of which varies according to tradition, and the subsequent memorial festival called malagan. Depending on the financial resources of the family, the malagan occurs several months or even years after death, for the sponsoring clan must be able to provide enormous amounts of the starchy root of the taro plant and some 50 pigs to feed the numerous guests. In addition, the organizers must arrange for the carving of the figures, horizontal friezes, vertical poles, and masks whose ritual display concludes the festival. Although the function of the malagan is primarily religious, to commemorate the deceased and to aid the soul in moving from the world of the living to that of the dead, it is also central to the social, economic, and artistic life of the community. The term malagan is also used for the sculptures and masks that appear in the festival.
Adapted from
- DMA Label text.
NOTES
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS (list applicable note links)
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Tribal Trust, YouTube~Watch Mathew Salle, a carver on Tabar Islands in Papua New Guinea, make a traditional malagan sculpture.
- Tribal Trust, YouTube~Watch an interview of Edward Salle, a traditional owner of Malangan on theTabar Islands in Papua New Guinea.
- The Met, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History~Learn more about the island of New Ireland.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about the climate, people, culture, and history of Papua New Guinea.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Learn more about the region of Oceania.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES (digitized/non-digitized)
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
set operator as OR
apply to objects where number equals 1975.7
apply to objects where number equals 1975.8
apply to objects where number equals 1975.9
apply to objects where number equals 1975.10
apply to objects where number equals 1975.11
apply to objects where number equals 1975.12
apply to objects where number equals 1975.13
Category
rules_operator
OR
General Description
The Island of New Ireland, east of New Guinea in the Bismark Archipelago, is covered by tropical rainforest and grassy plateaus. On the northern part of the island, rites for the dead consist of a funeral accompanied by a period of mourning, the nature of which varies according to tradition, and the subsequent memorial festival called malagan. Depending on the financial resources of the family, the malagan occurs several months or even years after death, for the sponsoring clan must be able to provide enormous amounts of the starchy root of the taro plant and some 50 pigs to feed the numerous guests. In addition, the organizers must arrange for the carving of the figures, horizontal friezes, vertical poles, and masks whose ritual display concludes the festival. Although the function of the malagan is primarily religious, to commemorate the deceased and to aid the soul in moving from the world of the living to that of the dead, it is also central to the social, economic, and artistic life of the community. The term malagan is also used for the sculptures and masks that appear in the festival.
Adapted from
- DMA Label text.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
(digitized/non-digitized)
Web Resources
- Tribal Trust, YouTube~Watch Mathew Salle, a carver on Tabar Islands in Papua New Guinea, make a traditional malagan sculpture.
- Tribal Trust, YouTube~Watch an interview of Edward Salle, a traditional owner of Malangan on theTabar Islands in Papua New Guinea.
- The Met, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History~Learn more about the island of New Ireland.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about the climate, people, culture, and history of Papua New Guinea.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Learn more about the region of Oceania.
Notes
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.7
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.8
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.9
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.10
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.11
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.12
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1975.13
source file
terms-0045.xml.nores