ebooks Architecture; Actor and Audience (Theatre Concepts) by Iain Mackintosh in Arts-Photography

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth Reading; but Not a Perfect Piece of WorkBy Lexi G.Bill Berkleys "The Graves Are Not Yet Full" gives an interesting perspective for the reader into the more recent events in Africas history. In the book; Berkley takes his journalistic experiences and knowledge he has gathered during his time spent in Africa to investigate and explain the source; or sources; for conflicts in countries like Liberia; South Africa; Sudan; Rwanda; and the Congo. The message propagated by the tyrannical leaders of these nations is that ethnic and "tribal" conflict was the source of this violence and was inevitable despite who may have power at the time but; by writing this piece; Berkley is attempting to dispel the stereotype that the conflicts are caused by tribal rivalries; but instead encouraged and exploited by the leaders to benefit themselves and those around them.While attempting to disprove the stereotype of ethnic conflict in Africa; Berkley hopes to bring attention the injustices the people of these countries suffered; as well as to force some accountability for rulers like Charles Taylor; Samuel Doe; and others who brought this violence on their people. However; despite his commendable intentions; I felt that there were flaws with the way that Berkley went about in disproving the stereotype that has plagued Africa in the Western World for so long.The main problem that I had with this book; while I did enjoy the style in which Berkley wrote in; was that the "case studies"; if you will; seemed to all blend together towards the end. In some instances; Berkley even used the exact same phrases and language to describe the atrocities. As you continue on; you almost feel like you could cut out the name of the country and the tyrannical ruler in power and replace them with the next case study and have the next chapter set up. While the idea of using five different examples to argue his case is fascinating; it almost seems to desensitize the reader to the violence and injustices the people were suffering. This is unfortunate because I believe the intentions of the author to be worthy but his means of presenting them do not completely do him justice.Despite this; I feel that overall Berkley brings a fresh approach of a Westerner writing about Africa. Rather than completely focusing on the "big men" of these nations; Berkley took the time in his travels to speak with people of all classes; ethnicities; and gender to attempt to create a more rounded perspective. This book allows us as readers from the Western World to get a better sense of the implication these events had on the rest of the world. We see the role that countries like the United States played in the development of these regimes as well as a brief look at possible motives politicians had for making the decisions that they did. While exploring the myth that African conflict is caused by tribal differences; we are able to experience some of the modern events that have plagued Africa in recent times in a refreshing new light.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. For the Western Audience...By Tanveen 198FBill Berkeleys book The Graves Are Not Yet Full is the outcome of his anger and disgust upon witnessing freshly slaughtered corpses in Kigali; Rwanda. His investigation of political leaders in Liberia; Congo; South Africa; Sudan; Uganda and Rwanda is intended to enlighten readers about unjustified killings across Africa. Berkeleys argument is that explanations of tribalism; and primitive and "age-old hatreds" as the causes of Africas bloodbath are inaccurate. He argues that the real "evil" behind the suffering are the educated tyrants who promote conflicts among groups in order to sustain power. In the words of Berkeley; "Big men [are] using little men; cynically maneuvering for power and booty while thousands perish" (14).For the most part; Berkeley is successful in establishing a persuasive claim. His examination of intellectual leaders stirring up conflict in Africa is convincingly supported by the sophisticated oppressors. His concentration on tyrants manipulating "ethnic conflict as a form of organized crime" is also insightful based on his descriptions of how leaders and the government pit racial groups against each other. His analyses of Liberia and Rwanda are especially helpful in supporting his claim. However; the fact that Berkeley refuses to recognize the significance of tribalism as a cause of African anguish makes his analysis too simplistic.Given his emphasis on tyrants; Berkeley focuses on countries where he can easily support his argument. In all of the countries he discusses; tyrants use the divide-and-rule tactic to inflame ethnic conflict. In the case of Liberia; the system worked in the favor of Charles Taylor; as the terror he inflicted upon African people established his presidency. In the case of Rwanda; leaders plotted the Hutus and Tutsis against each other in a battle for superiority. The conflict of the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda supports Berkeleys argument allowing him to reject tribalism as a cause of conflict as both groups live in peace in certain areas of Rwanda. However; Berkeleys focus on particular countries left me to wonder whether ethnic conflict plays a substantial role in African countries not examined in his investigation.Perhaps the biggest strength of Bill Berkeleys book is his firsthand perspective on the atrocities in Africa. Through his eye witnessed accounts; readers are allowed to share the experience of a man in Africa who is visualizing horrendous violence. Unlike other writings on Africa; Berkeleys account explores the madness in Africa over a 20-year span. The attention he brings to the tragedies in Africa appears to be directed towards a Western audience. His intention is to shed light on the extent of violence occurring in Africa since most Western people are oblivious to the reality.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Demystifying the Dark ContinentBy J. D MorrowTo the casual observer Africa looks to be the "heart of darkness or the "dark continent" found in Joseph Conrad. From the bits of news and information gleaned from the Western press; it would appear that the entire continent is a cauldron of ethnic diversity simmering under the heat of individual quasi-nation states that could erupt for any reason at any time. "Tribalism" becomes a codeword for inaction; since it would appear to be useless to act with all the ancient hatreds.This quick diagnoses and prescriptions for non-action have allowed Africa to flounder in a disconnection from the global economic; political and social revolutions of the twentieth century. Bill Berkeley operates on the crazy notion that one should look into the issues facing Africa before making such judgments. Instead he meets individuals in and connected with Africa. In six chapters he finds two basic theses: first; the individual actions are affected by what he terms; the "big man"; second; the individual actors seek their own ends through means that may hurt or help other actorsOne example is Zaire. In Zaire; Berkeleys Big Man is Mobutu who uses the idea of anarchy and instability to maintain his own tyranny; a theme throughout through out the work. Mobutu uses the ethnic differences as a "wedge issue" to divide his subjects and through a slight of hand pitting Kaisans against Katagans. This divide and rule allowed Mobutu to continue his kleptocracy long after it had outlived its Cold War uses.Berkeley reports his experiences in Africa. Further; he analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the "oh; its Tribal" attitude. While not letting the US or the Soviets completely off the hook; Berkeley sees a larger picture in each case. In Rwanda he sums it as "the rule of the gun over the rule of law." While at times he tends to under-analyze; such as whether Musevenis point on ethnicity versus class is valid; Berkeley is still open to interpretations and does not see anything as the good guys versus the bad guys. (His look into the Tutsi rebels in Rwanda and the violence perpetrated by the ANC bares this out). The fact is that problems in Africa are not "just tribal." Instead; he tries to look to qui bono. If the Zulus are fighting with the ANC instead of the Apartheid regime; qui bono? This is a must read for anybody interested in Africa or political movements in the world in general.