The ethnography is interesting. The narration is ignorant, fatuous. and condescending. Cargo cults are common on a number of islands in Melanesia (e.g., Worsley, P. "Cargo Cults of Melanesia." Scientific American. 1 May 1959. Search for this online to see the article, since url's are not permitted in reviews.)
Cargo cults have existed for over 150 years. They all are similar in that they anticipate the return of some American(s) bringing "cargo" (desired riches), commonly in association with someone named "John Frum" (= John from...) who will bring the "cargo". Many cargo cults have traditionally believed that when the cargo comes, blacks will be turned into whites and vice versa. The idea that the US Navy would be sending someone-- today -- to Tanna to search for a lost WW2 airman named John Frum is absurd, and makes fools of both the islanders and the audience. Fortunately, the interesting video and comments of the islanders outweigh the dumb narration/ storyline.
Cargo cults have existed for over 150 years. They all are similar in that they anticipate the return of some American(s) bringing "cargo" (desired riches), commonly in association with someone named "John Frum" (= John from...) who will bring the "cargo". Many cargo cults have traditionally believed that when the cargo comes, blacks will be turned into whites and vice versa. The idea that the US Navy would be sending someone-- today -- to Tanna to search for a lost WW2 airman named John Frum is absurd, and makes fools of both the islanders and the audience. Fortunately, the interesting video and comments of the islanders outweigh the dumb narration/ storyline.
