Had an interesting session in my cultural anthropology class. We started off the day talking about "symbolic action." Some used Star Wars as an example, talking about Darth Vader and when he has to take off his mechanical mask and underneath is a deformed and crippled old man. They also exclaimed that the movie is a metaphor about revolting against empires or mechanical industry. Then we talked about marriage and how we go through a whole long process just the show that we love someone. Then death and the how we have to have a long ceremony just to show that they have passed and we have let them go. Out of the blue we get on the subject about FGM or female genital mutilation. It stated off on topic, but then everyone just started rambling on how horrible it is and totally forgot that we have to put it in context with their culture and practices. Anyway, it was quite the amusing class period.