Margaret Mead: Human Nature and the Power of Culture
Making Wajangs [Shadow Puppets] in Bali

Margaret Mead: Human Nature and the Power of Culture

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Wajang

Mead and Bateson's 1936–1939 field trip to study the Balinese and the Iatmul was a landmark in the history of visual anthropology.

They took approximately 35,000 photographs, 33,000 feet of motion picture film, and copious field notes.

Mead and Bateson worked out a precise system for recording field data in Bali. They synchronized their watches, along with their Balinese secretary, Madé Kalér. While Bateson took still and motion picture film of events, Mead and Madé Kalér took notes, recording the time of events at frequent intervals. They noted when photographs were taken with “LEICAS” or “L,” and when motion picture film was taken with “CINE” or “C.”

Below are representative materials to illustrate Mead and Bateson's field method.

Making Wajangs [Shadow Puppets] in Bali: Footnotes

Mead and Balinese secretary Madé Kalér took detailed notes describing the process of making a wajang, or shadow puppet.

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Making Wajangs [Shadow Puppets] in Bali: Photographs

Bateson took this series of photographs of the artist, I Wara of Negara, making a wajang or shadow puppet on November 4, 1937.

Making Wajangs [Shadow Puppets] in Bali: Film

Bateson took this 16mm film of the making of wajangs [Shadow Puppets] in Bali.

All of the photographs and a large selection of the field notes from this field trip have been digitized and are available online in the Manuscript Reading Room.

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