Library Resource Center
Here are some ideas to help you complete your paper on cultural comparison. You are to compare the Trobrianders to another culture of your choice.
Some sample search terms that may help you find resources on the Trobrianders:
• Trobriand
• Trobriander
• Trobriand Island(s)
• Trobriand Islanders
• Melanesian
• Kiriwina Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• Ethnology
Marriage Customs of the World by 
They Eat That? by 
Death and the Afterlife by Here are some sample subject headings that will help you refine your search on a particular aspect of culture:
Art and society
Clothing and dress
Economic conditions
Food habits
Funeral customs and rites
Kinship
Language and culture
Manners and customs
Marriage customs and rites
Medical care
Mourning customs
Religion and culture
Rites and ceremonies
Sex role
Social conditions
Social life and customs
Social structure
Indian Dancers. From the Collections of The New York Public Library
Here are some books on other cultures held at the SUNY Erie City Library. Search Primo for more!
People and Cultures of Hawaii by
This is a significant update to the highly influential text People and Cultures of Hawai'i:
A Psychocultural Profile. Since its publication in 1980, the immigrant groups it discusses in
depth have matured and new ones have been added to the mix. The present work tracks the
course of these changes over the past twenty years, constructing a historical understanding of
each group as it evolved from race to ethnicity to culture. Individual chapters begin with an overview
of one of fifteen groups. Following the development of its unique ethnocultural identity,
distinctive character traits such as temperament and emotional expression are explored-as well
as ethnic stereotypes. Also discussed are modifications to the group's ethnocultural identity
over time and generational change-which traits may have changed over generations and which
are more hardwired or enduring. An important feature of each chapter is the focus on the
group's family social structure, generational and gender roles, power distribution, and central
values and life goals. Readers will also find a description of the group's own internal social
class structure, social and political strategies, and occupational and educational patterns. Finally,
contributors consider how a particular ethnic group has blended into Hawai'i's culturally sensitive
society.
Culture and Customs of Syria by
Syria has served as a major crossroads in the Middle East since prehistoric times, leaving it open to change and passing customs from other societies. Syria's melting pot of cultures has led it to become an ethnically diverse country, sometimes leading to turbulence among other countries as well as within its own borders. Focusing on contemporary traditions, topics such as religion, cuisine, fashion, music, and art unveil Syria's true modern-day culture. Readers will discover how Syrians live today-what they eat, what they wear, and how they celebrate life in today's conflicted Middle East. Ideal for high school students and general readers, "Culture and Customs of Syria" serves as a staple for all library shelves.
Culture and Customs of Haiti by
"Culture and Customs of Haiti" begins with an overview of the mountainous island that seemed forbidding to European colonizers. Historical periods, including French colonization, U.S. occupation in the early 20th century, Independence and the Duvaliers' reigns, until today, are reviewed and provide the framework for the volume. A chapter on the people and society details the pride of the black state that managed the only successful slave revolution in history. The extremes of society from the elite to the peasantry and slum dwellers are depicted, along with Haitians in diaspora. Religion in Haiti, with the strong amalgamation of Roman Catholicism and vaudou, a West African import, is then explained. A Social Customs chapter notes the joy that is found in such an economically depressed culture. The media and literature and language chapters necessarily unfold in the context of Haiti's political history. A section on writing in Creole is especially intriguing. Finally, chapters on the performing arts and visual arts evoke the energy and color of the people in such forms as vaudou jazz and dance, contemporary rara rock, and the folkloric influence on Haitian painting. A chronology and glossary supplement the text.
Culture and Customs of Pakistan by
Until now, in-depth cultural information on Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country formed in 1947 after the dissolution of British rule in India, has been scarce. This crucial South Asian hotspot, in the news for tensions with neighboring India over nuclear capacity and security issues, finally is illuminated for general readers. This narrative encapsulates the historical pluralistic traditions, such as religious practices, languages, and ethnosocial ties, that Pakistanis share with their neighbors. The coverage of culture and customs is contextualized throughout with the richness of the past and present Indus Valley civilization. The author is a native of Pakistan and provides authoritative insight into the many aspects of history and contemporary life. Western readers will be exposed to a range of folk traditions that coexist with modern influences from globalization. Descriptions of unfamiliar cultural phenomena such as the architecture of shrines and tombs, the distinctive dress of different groups, Pakistani Muslim courtship and marriage rituals, and lively kite-flying contests are some of the highlights.
Code from these LibGuides pages are a derivative of LibGuides code by UC Santa Cruz University Library, used under CC BY.
