1930s Anthropology
Guy Bock
[ Main | Library ]
Inspired by the forensics section in the Cthulhu Now
suplement, I
decided to do the same with each of the CoC player character skills.
I wanted to pay particular attention to the science skills with
respect to what was considered the 'cutting edge' in the '30s. The
following are game master suggestions for using CoC skills.
Anthropology
This skill covers several sub-branches of human sciences, but the
field of knowledge which the CoC rulebook describes is known
as ethnology.
My 1937 Compton's Illustrated Encyclopedia states:
"This field deals with the physical differences between the white
and black races, between the American Indian and the Chinaman. It
compares the skeletons and skulls of prehistoric men with those of
modern types. It deals also with the customs and religions of
various tribes and peoples, their arts and languages - all with a
view to finding out how the races differ and how they developed."
It is anthropologists who may suddenly recall tales of
devil-worshiping eskimos or the strange ancestor worship of the Ponape
Islanders. Ethnologists coming face to face with a Mytos horror that
is represented in the legendry of a familiar culture should make an
anthropology roll. If succesful, extra SAN will be lost due to the
ethnologist's increased understanding of the Thing.
The 1930s showed great improvements in anthropology. Previously, many
anthropologist were engaged with collecting 'evidence' that allowed
them to create classification systems of different cultures. These
systems were of dubious scientific value and tended to protray white
anglo-saxons as the pinacle of human development. Sadistic GMs may
saddle his players with such an 'expert' when they are desperate for
anthropological information.
1930 Anthropology Bibliography
(ie books with weird or sinister sounding title to impress your players with)
"Strange Peoples" by Frederick Starr (pub. 1901)
"Human Origins" (2 vol.) by G.G. MacCurdy (pub. 1924)
"Races of Man" by J.V. Nash (pub. 1931)
Leading anthropologists alive in 1930s
Frazer, Sir James George (b. 1854) Author of the "Golden Bough"
Hrdlicka, Ales (b. 1869) Curator U.S.
National Museum
Keith, Sir Arthur (b. 1866) Expert on
resconstrution of prehistoric
human remains
