The Masked Monkeys
The masked arts of Indonesia are thousands of years old. They are commonly referred to as wayang topeng (wayang: shadow or puppet; topeng: mask). It is believed that wayang topeng originated from tribal death rites, where masked dancers were considered the interpreters of the gods. In the lowest rungs of Javanese society a unique manifestation of these masked traditions can be found. Its practitioners are performers, but they are not merely entertainers. Their aim is not simply to amuse. Their ambition is to be respected, to be honoured, to be successful. They have embarked on a path they know will lead to a higher state, to an honourable and noble position.
From the archive
1 videodisc (approximately 60 min.) : 4 3/4 in Transferred from 1/2 in videocassette by the University of Washington Presents the evolutionary interpretations of the guenons lineage as set forth by Jonathan Kingdon, artist and naturalist. A number of primatologists have been collecting data on the large number of species that live in the Kabali Forest of Uganda helping to unravel the puzzle of guenon evolution: Jean-Pierre Gautire researches guenon vocalizations by sonograms and Thomas Strusaker and his wife Lysa Leland working on Colobus monkeys and gray-checked mangabeys, respectively. Also shows that guenons communicate both with vocalizations and their coat and face coloration and markings. How did coloration evolve? How and why did speciation occur? Surveys the guenons or masked monkeys of the Kibale Forest, Uganda and the clues they give about primate evolution. Narrator, George Page ; commentary by Jonathan Kingdon ... [et al.] For BBC-TV: photography, Richard Ganniclifft ; editor, Colin Cradoc Originally broadcast on Nature in 1987
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- Director
- Juan David González Monroy
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