- 1 Justice
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Systems of justice in different cultures are examined. Included: tribal justice in the West African nation of Togo and revenge killings in Albania.
Air Date: 2003-10-06
- 2 Delicacies
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In Iceland's traditional Thorrablot celebration in February, a chef prepares rotting shark meat, goat's head and other hard to swallow dishes for their traditional buffet. And in India, an Anglo-indian lady prepares a special luncheon that features a goat foetus stew called kutti pi. In Togo, the cameras follow hunters out into the hot wilderness to hunt a rat to be used in a stew and voodoo ritual. And finally in Taiwan, a chef prepares bull's penis soup to boost his diner's virility.
Air Date: 2003-10-13
- 3 Creature Cures
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Unusual medical procedures include bee stings for arthritis; putting maggots in open wounds; medicine made from baboon claws; therapy with leeches.
Air Date: 2003-10-20
- 4 After Death
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Death ceremonies from around the world are examined. Included: the Aghori sect in India embraces corpses in an effort to break the cycle of reincarnation; in Taiwan, bones are exhumed and cleaned before being reburied. Also: embalming bodies in the U.S.
Air Date: 2003-11-03
- 5 Body Perfect
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On the island off the coast of Indonesian Sumatra, the wife of the Mentawi tribe chieften, undergoes a teeth filing ritual to beautify herself. Her teeth are sharpen with a machete. In Los Angeles, California, Jay wants to have buttock implants, and undergoes a 2 hour long surgery by Dr. Sinclair. Next, a man receives eye lifting surgery by Dr. Griffin to improve his looks. And in Chongqing, China, a short man has the bones in his legs broken, stretched, then healed to make himself taller. The 'bone breaking' and 'leg stretching' procedure is a painful and lengthy process and the recovery takes years.
Air Date: 2003-11-10
- 6 Sacred Pain
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Taboo observes the painful extremes some religious faithful go through for the sake of their soul.
Air Date: 2003-12-08
- 7 Rites of Passage
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Explore how different cultures mark milestones along the path of life.
Air Date: 2003-12-30
- 8 Child Rearing
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Child-rearing in different cultures is examined. Included: Sumatra, India and China.
Air Date: 2004-01-12
- 9 Extreme Entertainers
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Entertainment in different cultures. Included: the training of a Japanese geisha; cross-dressing cabaret performers of Thailand; American circus sideshow performers who pierce their bodies with skewers and chew glass.
Air Date: 2004-01-19
- 10 Blood Bonds
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Some unusual definitions of family are discussed.
Air Date: 2004-01-26
- 11 Marks of Identity
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Ritualistic body modification in different cultures around the world is examined. Included: neck stretching in Thailand; samurai body tattoos in Japan; branding scarification in the U.S.
Air Date: 2004-03-15
- 12 Initiation
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Some rites of initiation may seem bizarre and extreme, but many cultures believe they are worth the pain.
Air Date: 2004-03-23
- 13 Outcasts
- 14 Rites of Passage
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Explore how different cultures mark milestones along the path of life.
Air Date: 2003-12-30
- 15 0
- 16 Extreme Cuisine
- 17 Extreme Childhood
- 18 Body Cutters
- 19 Body Art