Which of the following best describes a Cargo Cult ritual?

Study for the Dantes General Anthropology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your assessment!

A Cargo Cult ritual is characterized by the specific practice of holding ritual marches with handmade items to attract aircraft, which reflects the belief that spiritual or ancestral forces will bring material wealth and goods to the community, particularly those associated with Western powers or technology. This phenomenon emerged primarily in Melanesia during and after World War II when indigenous peoples observed the arrival of abundant goods via airplanes and sought to replicate these circumstances through their own rituals and symbolic actions.

In these rituals, participants often create replicas of the objects they associate with the desired wealth and prosperity, such as toys or mock airplanes, believing that these actions will invoke the presence of divine beings or the ancestors, who will deliver similar goods. This reflects a blending of traditional beliefs with the new realities brought about by colonial contact, where the material culture of Western societies becomes the focus of reverence and ritual practice. Thus, option B accurately encapsulates the essence of Cargo Cult rituals, emphasizing the combination of handmade items and the intent to attract external goods through symbolic acts.

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