This thesis looks at the narratives surrounding Dutch and British expeditions of exploration in New Guinea to study the roles of nationalist and internationalist sentiment within the narratives of...Show moreThis thesis looks at the narratives surrounding Dutch and British expeditions of exploration in New Guinea to study the roles of nationalist and internationalist sentiment within the narratives of these expeditions.Show less
Beginning with a case in 2004 where the 'stupid Papuans' stereotype resurfaced in a witness testimony, this thesis explores the origin of the stereotype of Papuans in New Guinea. Papuans have been...Show moreBeginning with a case in 2004 where the 'stupid Papuans' stereotype resurfaced in a witness testimony, this thesis explores the origin of the stereotype of Papuans in New Guinea. Papuans have been portrayed as stupid, wild and savages in Western texts. This thesis explores the origin of these ideas by scrutinizing travel accounts written by Europeans who traveled along the northern coast of New Guinea in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. By investigating these accounts and connecting them with the nature of the Dutch administration, it was found that while the Dutch were involved in the construction of the aforementioned stereotypes, the native informants employed by the Dutch were quite decisive in this process. This thesis argues that the reason for the persistence of this stereotype is the fact that the stereotype was not merely generated by the Europeans, but also believed by the surrounding native societies.Show less
In the museum world, Western perceptions regarding indigenous peoples have often changed in the past and are still changing continually today. This thesis consists of an effort to trace these past...Show moreIn the museum world, Western perceptions regarding indigenous peoples have often changed in the past and are still changing continually today. This thesis consists of an effort to trace these past changes in representations of native peoples from the first museums to modern times, taking the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde in Leiden as a case study. This case study turns out to be an illustrative example of how these changes occurred in ethnographic museums as results of the changes in the political and academic climate at the time, as well as the changing awareness indigenous peoples had of their own culture. By being aware of these past changes, it is better possible to plan ahead for the future.Show less
