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Kuan Lu
Anthropology 102
Professor Hurst
10/19/2014
The Cultured Ape
Part 1
Frans de Waal and Andrew Whiten both #nd that chimpanzees share
many similarities with humans. Waal claims that chimpanzees depend on
their culture for survival and they practice traditions that are passed down
from generation to generation. In the video, he asserts that chimpanzees
have aspects of human culture. He argues that culture means more than
going to concerts and museums. In his view, culture is re+ected in many
simple behaviors such as eating a certain kind of food and dressing in a
certain way. He uses the examples of chimpanzees having tea parties to
illustrate that chimpanzees are capable of learning new cultures and
immersing in them. Whiten agrees with Waal’s finding and also points out
that chimpanzees express emotions just like humans do. The video includes
an example that shows a female chimpanzee rescue an unconscious boy and
brings him to people who can take care of him. This example illustrates that
chimpanzees have consciousness, intelligence and emotions. While others
#nd Waal and Whiten’ finding intriguing and promising, some #nd them
disturbing. We humans tend to think we are unique and we try to keep
ourselves apart from other creatures. Humans and apes share similarities
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biologically and culturally. But some people see apes as violent and
dangerous animals. Many of us try to keep distances from apes so that we
can feel superior. According to Waal, even some behaviorists consider all
animals to be interchangeable and they see animals as machines with needs
and urges.
Part 2
Filmmaker John Waters describes an interesting encounter with a
female chimpanzee. He sat down on the ground about 10 feet from a female
chimpanzee named Fi# and started taking shots of her. At first, she was
looking great and being friendly. But all of a sudden, her facial expression
changed. Waters was confused but later he found out Fi#’s grandson was
