ATH 111 FINAL PROJECT

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1 7-1 Final Project: Anthropological Film Study Sara Myers ATH 111 Prof. Kelley Sams

2 Introduction For my final project, I will watch Tim Burton's 1999 movie, "Sleepy Hollow." The film stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane. Crane is a New York City police officer sent to investigate the gruesome murders in Sleep Hollow. Crane was anticipating solving the murders with his new investigative tools. Upon meeting with the local authorities, he learns that The Headless Horseman, a supernatural entity that has possessed the victims, carried out the horrific killings. However, instead of following their lead, Crane utilizes his methods to identify the killer. Masbeth, a local boy, helps Mr. Crane find a twisted tree that leads to a portal that allows the Horseman to enter and stay in Sleepy Hollow. He realizes that the skull of the Horseman is missing, and he suspects that someone is trying to control him. He then learns that the Horseman is controlled by Lady Van Tassel, Katrina’s stepmother. Crane retrieves the horseman's skull and brings it back to the man. Lady Van Tassel then departs with the horseman. Mr. Crane then returns to New York with Young Masbeth and Katrina (Rudin, & Schroeder, & Burton, 1999). Cultural Norms and Values One of the significant cultures featured in the 1999 film is the city culture. Mr. Crane's journey in the movie begins with him originating from this urban and progressive mindset. His dedication to the field of forensics is also seen in this culture. The city culture demands that proof be accepted, evident in the movie when the superiors send Mr. Crane to investigate his creations in Sleepy Hollow. The other culture, referred to as "the country" by the town's residents, also appears in the film. Its distinct belief systems and secrecy characterize the rural and conservative culture. It also shows an acceptance of folk tales and supernatural beliefs, such as those related to the presence of evil spirits. The film shows a subculture called witchcraft, which is based on the country's culture. While this region shares many similarities with the

3 country, it is different due to its utilization of dark magic, which distinguishes itself (Rudin et al., 1999). The cultural values and norms of the city are that people are expected to be observant and suspicious of those around them. This culture aims to find the truth in all circumstances. For instance, Mr. Crane rejects that an evil force, The Headless Horseman, did the killings. He does this as his culture does not believe in such notions. Instead, it considers that the actions of a mother are justifiable and can be attributed to a reasonable cause. The country's cultural values and norms are traditional and reclusive. Its members are also usually influenced by local leaders' beliefs. This culture values the protection of people from evil forces by using religion. For instance, Mr. Crane learned that the spirit could not enter the church after the locals tried to escape from the Headless Healer. Cultural norms related to witchcraft show that people can use spells to control others. Lady Van Tassel uses witchcraft to remove the Headless Horseman’s skull to control him and draws a pentagram on the ground to protect Crane (Rudin et al., 1999). The film's subcultures and cultures exhibit various distinctions and similarities. The city and the country believe criminals should not be allowed to get away with their wrongdoings, and investigators should be respected. On the other hand, the rural area and witchcraft observe a form of secrecy, as some individuals secretly plan a conspiracy and others practice witchcraft in the woods. The beliefs of the country and the city vary depending on their different cultural backgrounds. For instance, Mr. Crane's progressive community values science and facts, and he believes that every action has an underlying reason. He possesses all the necessary knowledge and technology to find it. The inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow hold traditional beliefs. According to them, the crimes within the town are not the actions of individuals but the evil spirit known as the Headless Horseman (Rudin et al., 1999).

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4 In a scene that features cultural differences between the characters, Mr. Crane first meets with the various leaders of Sleepy Hollow, including Dr. Lancaster, the magistrate, Reverend Steenwyck, and Baltus Van Tassel. The locals then inform him that the Headless Horseman carried out the killings. Crane assures the residents that an evil entity did not carry out the recent killings but a man. The religious leader then offers the Bible to stop the spirits. This scene shows the town's culture through the locals' belief in the power of superstition. In addition to showcasing the city's culture, this scene also shows the scientific method employed by Mr. Crane in solving the murder case (Rudin et al., 1999). Anthropological Concepts Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) features three core anthropological concepts. These include ethnocentrism, enculturation, and religion. The film's central character, Crane, quickly judges others and sticks to his convictions. The film illustrates the concept of enculturation by showing Mr. Crane's acceptance of the local's beliefs as he tries to find the murderer. Finally, religion and the system of beliefs are depicted by the local's use of supernatural powers, including the protection of the church. In the film "Sleepy Hollow," Young Maspeth is heavily influenced by an anthropological concept known as assimilation. This concept refers to assimilating people from a specific culture into another. This usually involves the dominant culture taking over. Maspeth's assimilation into Mr. Crane's culture is shown in the scene when she asks him to help solve the crimes. Upon his arrival, he brought a new scientific and progressive culture compared to what was found in Sleepy Hollow. Early in the film, the locals are amazed by the various techniques used by Mr. Crane during the crime scene. Soon, Young Maspeth starts to learn more about him and his methods. He asked if he could help him with his investigations. Initially, Mr. Crane was reluctant

5 to help Young Maspeth. However, after he convinced him otherwise, he agreed to let Maspeth accompany him to every crime scene. Young Maspeth learns about Mr. Crane's various methods to collect evidence and find the killer during this time. Another set shows Young Masbeth's cultural transition as he accompanies Mr. Crane and Katrina to New York City (Rudin et al., 1999). Masbeth's assimilation is shown in these scenes as he learns more about Mr. Crane's culture and uses scientific tools to understand the situation better. Throughout the movie, Maspeth also shows signs of assimilation as he leaves his home in Sleepy Hollow and returns to New York City. In the film, Mr. Crane is influenced by another concept known as ethnocentrism. This concept is defined as the belief that an individual's culture's customs, values, and norms are superior to that of others (MindEdge, Inc., 2016). A scene in the movie shows Mr. Crane meeting with the local leaders. They talk about the various murders in the town and speculate on who the killer might be. The locals thought the Headless Horseman was the killer, but Mr. Crane thought it was a person. This scene promotes ethnocentrism due to Mr. Crane's disbelief that ghosts can kill people. Instead of worrying about the opinions of others, Mr. Crane focused on his own beliefs. He tried to convince the locals that the killer was not a ghost but a person (Rudin et al., 1999). The third concept that Crane learned in the film is religion and systems of beliefs. This concept is related to the belief systems of people, which are based on shared values and norms (MindEdge, Inc., 2016). The movie's most notable moment involves the Headless horseman attacking the town. The townspeople barricaded inside a church to protect themselves from the Headless Horseman outside the sanctuary. Even though the Headless Horseman could not enter

6 the church, he could still carry out his evil plans. This scene shows that the people believe entering the church will protect them from evil. Application and Conclusion If I were to be given the chance to interview Mr. Crane, one of the questions I would ask him would be why he relies on facts and observations, why he rejects the opinions of the residents, how he became more inclined to work alone, and what his outlook on the Headless Horseman has changed. Through these questions, I can better understand Mr. Crane's culture, how he acts, and his attitudes in the film. By understanding his behavior and attitudes, I can identify with the kind of person he is and how he views local culture. In addition, these questions can help me understand how he reacts to local culture. I can relate to Mr. Crane's cultural outlook due to how we value the use of facts and science to solve mysteries and how we value spiritual beliefs. My culture tends to align me more with Mr. Crane's behavior and outlook, and I accept his actions more than the locals. This fillm study has allowed me to learn that cultures can influence people. In addition to being able to influence people, culltures also have hidden expectations that can motivate individuals to act in a certain way, and this is what the movie showed. For some individuals, these pressures and expectations can motivate them to behave in a particullar manner. This study gave me a deeper understanding of other cultures and their behaviors. This has improved my understanding of how people behave in different countries.

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7 Bibliography MindEdge, Inc. (2016). Introduction to cultural anthropology. Waltham, MA: MindEdge, Inc. Rudin, S., Schroeder, A. (Producers), & Burton, T. (Director) (1999). Sleepy hollow [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.

ATH 111 FINAL PROJECT

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