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
