The November 1st (2011) corrected and revised map, drawn by Robert Leiterman.
"See the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot Film Site area as it is today. Study a little history while you're at it. Part on an ever-ongoing series." -- Steven Streufert
In our earlier post, "The Most Refreshing Bigfoot Research" (November 18, 2011) . We mentioned not only the great work done by Robert Leiterman, Steven Streufert, Rowdy Kelly. We also gave proper respect (or "props" if we wanted to establish our street cred) to their open approach to sharing their research.
Below are part 1 and part 2 of the 2011 season, part 2 just uploaded to YouTube Today (DEC 30th 2011).
If you are unfamiliar with Joshua Blu Buhs, here is a quick synopses of his book:
"Independent scholar Buhs (The Fire Ant Wars) skeptically but affectionately surveys the evidentiary traces of bigfoot and his yeti and Sasquatch kin in sightings, tracks, sideshow exhibits and film, but his focus is on the megapod as cultural signifier. To the white working-class men who are his biggest fans, Buhs contends, bigfoot is an icon of untamed masculinity, a populist rebel against scientific elites, the last champion of authentic reality against a plastic, image-driven, effeminate consumer society." --Publishers Weekly
Joshua Blu Buhs, has a certain perspective. He thinks Bigfoot is "...a product of the postwar ascendance of mass culture and a reaction to it..."
The New Yorker called some of of his assertions silly, in particular the quote,"...by imagining themselves into the body of Sasquatch, white working-class men could imagine themselves as black, as women, could come in contact with their own souls."
In his guest blog he full-on compares Bigfoot to Santa Clause.
Given the season, we might compare the interest in Bigfoot to affection for Santa Claus. Not strictly a legend -- no one seriously argues for the existence of him -- Santa Claus is still related to Bigfoot. Both are wildmen, part uncivilized, part human. Santa lives in the inhospitable North and is often decked in garlands of holly but is comparatively domesticated, his rough edges hidden behind a great white beard and cherubic cheeks. We tell stories about Santa Claus not because we believe in him, but because those stories convey messages we want shared -- about generosity and pure love and respect for others.
And that's why we tell stories about Bigfoot. Not only to argue for and against the existence of the Big Guy, but because through those stories we come to understand more about ourselves, our neighbors, and our place in this world.
I really enjoyed his book and find his take on Bigfoot interesting, but his blog has none of the eloquence or thoughtfulness I found in his book. Go ahead check out the blog for yourself at The Washington Post.
You can Also read an interesting interview of Joshua Blu Buhs at Bigfoot Books Blog
