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jkirch

(256 posts)
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 07:57 AM Jun 2020

Toraja Funeral

Here's my video of an adventure I had in Tana Toraja, Indonesia nearly 30 years ago. It's a look at the unique traditional funeral practices of the Torajan People. It was the most entertaining funeral I have ever attended.

Thanks for watching.

[link:

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Toraja Funeral (Original Post) jkirch Jun 2020 OP
That was wonderful!! BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2020 #1
Thanks, Blanche. jkirch Jun 2020 #2
It was professional level, hope you post more! BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2020 #3
That was wonderful! MuseRider Jun 2020 #4
I appreciate your watching and commenting. jkirch Jun 2020 #5
dang. and here all i wanted was a second line parade, and mopinko Jun 2020 #6
Thanks. jkirch Jun 2020 #7
yeah. the whole thing is amazing. mopinko Jun 2020 #10
That's fabulous. lunatica Jun 2020 #8
That's... jkirch Jun 2020 #9
Kicked and recommended. Thanks. littlemissmartypants Aug 2020 #11
Fascinating anthropological work! lunatica Aug 2020 #12
Thank you. jkirch Sep 2020 #13
You could probably donate a copy to lunatica Sep 2020 #14
Thank you. jkirch Sep 2020 #15
Hahahahaha haha! lunatica Sep 2020 #16

jkirch

(256 posts)
2. Thanks, Blanche.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 08:46 AM
Jun 2020

It's my job in retirement to finally edit all of my video adventures. I appreciate your watching.

MuseRider

(34,060 posts)
4. That was wonderful!
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:59 AM
Jun 2020

I hope you post this in GD where others might see it more easily.

Thank you for showing this, you did a wonderful job.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
6. dang. and here all i wanted was a second line parade, and
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 12:46 PM
Jun 2020

to have my ashes scattered on my farm.
shit.
now i have to rethink everything.

thank you. f'ing amazing.
esp the babies in the trees.

jkirch

(256 posts)
7. Thanks.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 02:53 PM
Jun 2020

The second line is pretty exotic here in Pittsburgh. It's all relative. I appreciate your remarks and I'm glad you liked the dead babies in trees!

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
10. yeah. the whole thing is amazing.
Sat Jun 20, 2020, 08:14 PM
Jun 2020

i was a hospice volunteer for 5 years, till i got locked out by the plague.
death and i are old friends.

such a beautiful way to deal w that.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
8. That's fabulous.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 04:04 PM
Jun 2020

Are you the narrator and are you an anthropologist? You’re certainly an excellent storyteller!

jkirch

(256 posts)
9. That's...
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 05:32 PM
Jun 2020

...nice of you to say. I did narrate it, but I had to do lot's of takes. I'm not an anthropologist, I'm a retired video editor.
I'm very glad you enjoyed it and appreciate your telling me about it.

littlemissmartypants

(22,418 posts)
11. Kicked and recommended. Thanks.
Sat Aug 15, 2020, 11:03 AM
Aug 2020

I hope you consider doing a transcript of the film, if you haven't already done so.

❤ lmsp

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
12. Fascinating anthropological work!
Fri Aug 21, 2020, 01:35 PM
Aug 2020

You did a great job of showing the process of the customs practiced that have their roots in the ancient past. I’m struck by the thought that the things that bind humans together for centuries is their shared customs and rituals. For the Toraja the funeral ritual is obviously an integrated and smooth life experience that involves everyone in the village. They probably have similar ritualistic events for all life’s events along the way. Births, weddings, coming of age.

Our rituals could be also seen as anthropological rituals just as much by any outsider not practicing such rituals.

You did a terrific job filming and narrating the Toraja people and their funerary customs. I hope the nearby hotel and tourist influx were kept at bay. But you caught something precious and important in a respectful and objective way. It also works with your sister in the mix because it shows the open and welcoming generosity of these people as well as her acceptance of a foreign custom. Thanks for posting this video.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
14. You could probably donate a copy to
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 02:27 PM
Sep 2020

an anthropological research department in a university if you’re so inclined. I think it's definitely that good. That way of life may be long gone by now, or even if the Toraja culture is still intact, I think your video would be appreciated by researchers. Have you tried contacting the Director or Chair of any department of Anthropology? If you’re interested maybe you can start with the department of anthropology in UC Berkeley.

It would be nice to honor the Toraja culture.

Anyway, that’s what I think about your work.

jkirch

(256 posts)
15. Thank you.
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 03:01 PM
Sep 2020

I'll keep that in mind, although I don't think it's scholarly enough for such an esteemed institution. Here's my latest one. An entirely different thing:

&t=2s

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
16. Hahahahaha haha!
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 03:27 PM
Sep 2020

That’s great! It really made me laugh, so thanks for this!

Please start a new thread with it. Try doing it in the DU lounge. People will love it! Make sure everyone knows you made the video.

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