Cannibal Tours and the Anthropological Sneer

I've been thinking about our discussion of Cannibal Tours on Thursday, how it's easy for us as anthropologists to simply shudder or roll our eyes at the horrific remarks made by gauche European and American tourists. We have heard their narrative of pristine, prehistoric natives before and know we're supposed to react this way. But is there, as Rebecca asked, any room for sympathy?

I think there has to be. These people became enamored with the "primitive" and the "unspoiled" largely because of the exoticizing heritage of colonialism and the media's similar obsession. These tourists are our parents or grandparents and there, but for the grace of educational enlightenment, go we. Films like Apocalypto and the continuing popularity of the National Geographic-style gaze show that these tourists are not alone.