What are the major questions concerning the Darkness in El Dorado controversy? - 63 views
started by J Scott Hill on 31 Jan 13
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#1 J Scott Hill on 31 Jan 13Let's work together to find out what the major issues are concerning this issue. While you are reading, keep a list of issues important to this controversy, We can use these issues to determine what tags to use for our bookmarks as well as how to determine what we will be discussing. Post one at a time to allow more students to contribute. -
#2 James Granderson on 04 Feb 13One of the major revelations Tierney brings forth about this issue is the fact that the Yanomami project, directed by James Neel, was an outgrowth of secret experiments conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission. This was certainly scandalous as the Atomic Energy Commission had a reputation of secretly testing the effects of radiation on human subjects. Marcel Roche, a colleague of Neel's, had experimented with the Yanomami by administering a radioactive isotope of iodine into their bloodstream. The fact that the Yanomami were an "isolated" population made them a good choice for genetic study. -
#3 Jacqueline Engel on 05 Feb 13There are several major questions concerning the Darkness in El Dorado. For example, the Yanomami has acquired false nicknames over the years, such as the "fierce and intractable," and also the measles from secret experiments conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission. It is still unclear to whether or not the Edmonston B gave the Yanomami people the direct virus or that the people who were vaccinated with Edmonston B transferred the measles. Either way, the Yanomami population was devastated because of these manipulative anthropologists. -
#16 Kelsey P on 06 Feb 13The major issue that I saw in this controversy was the overall blatant disregard for the well-being of the Yanomami. Neel, for one, used the Yanomami people as test subjects essentially and did not give much reason as to why he did administered this vaccine into the people. The Yanomami were most likely not fully aware that they were being taken advantage of and so this injustice unfortunately occurred. Chagnon went along with it and also gave very vivid but incorrect accounts about his experiences there. Chagnon was able to do this most likely because the exploration of remote places was practically unheard of at that time, or at the very least, unlikely because of transportation and funding issues. Since other anthropologists could not easily access the Yanomami people, they had to believe what information Chagnon and Neel provided to the rest of the scientific community. The Yanomami were clearly not respected or protected from these injustices and many more that occured during Chagnon and Neel's visits. -
#21 Kristen Olenick on 06 Feb 13Darkness in El Dorado brings up many ethical concerns. To begin, Chagnon entered the land of the Yanomami people dressed in his version of Yanomami clothing. Although it appears he was trying to fit in, he was really trying to assume power and encourage the violence. He was constantly bestowing machetes upon the Yanomami in return for their cooperation. Unfortunately some of those who cooperated were considered outcasts of their own society. In a sense he was manipulating those around him to provide him with the data he wanted. He even solicited the Yanomami to conduct a dance for the camera. He also tried to stage a conflict. This backfired when they formed an alliance and then proceeded to attack another village. His research poses such conflict because it can not be readily verified. Multiple anthropologists, who have also visited the area have made claims against Chagnon's work. However unreliable it may be, there is no data that is more thorough than his. -
#25 Erin Brennan on 06 Feb 13The American Anthropological Association is called on to take action on the allegations made by Patrick Tierney, an investigative journalist, about the genetic and medical experiments conducted by James Neel, Napoleon Chagnon, Marcel Roche and Timothy Asch among the Yanomami people of Venezuela. Tierney accuses the Yanomami project of being a secret experimental program that is a continuation of the Atomic Energy Commission. The article presents an accusation stating that Neel's associate, Marcel Roche, is guilty of injecting the people of Venezuela with radioactive isotopes in order to study the effects of radiation. Evidence that Neel and Chagnon probably started a measles epidemic is also presented by Tierney. Questions arise concerning the theoretical motives of the project, the blatant disregard of ethics , and the dangers of uncontrolled science and ego.
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