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Object Number
985-28-00/1.5
Display Title
Latah: a cultural scientific elaboration of the startle reflex, 16 mm film. color, sound, 40 min.
Descriptions
Object Description
Educational film about certain people with a type of strong startle response (latahs) in a village in Malaysia. Latah is a flustered hypnotic response to being startled, particularly by poking. Some narration, but primarily dubbed interviews with latahs and important people in village and footage of latahs and their startle response. Susceptibility of women to latah, hereditary nature, symptoms and responses, teasing by others, permissiveness of latah role, performance aspect. Film ends with hyperstartling studies and other culturally elaborated startle responses in other parts of world.
Department
Photographic
Date
1978
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
Oceania
/
Malaysia
Materials
Film
Quantity
1
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