PINCHEO%IUBACS.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU (02/06/90)
What follows are various responses which are in reference to comments made earlier which I either did not have sufficient time to respond to or esle (else) found them too painful; and general things I meant to say but did have all the information that I needed. Marz, the book that you should read by Mary Douglass is titled Purity and Danger; for background reference see also Winthrop Jordans' White Over Black: American Attitudes Toward The Negro, 1550-1812, pub. 1968 by Univ. of North Carolina Press; this edition is based on the author's dissertation and another version has been pubished as White Man's Burden: Historical Origins of Racism in the United States, pub. by Oxford (1974?). Read any- thing by George Stocking, but especially Victorian Anthropology and Race, Culture and Language; he provides good models for critique in Reinventing Anthropology and Observers Observered. All of these should be available at your school library. As for an introduction to critical theory and the works of Foucoult, Douglass, Habermas and Jurgen, see Power and Domination by Peter Miller, and Cultural Analysis by Robert Wuthnow, et. al. A book that I find also useful is Issac Balbus' Beyond (sorry, /not/ "Beyond") Marxism and Domination: A NeoHegalian, Feminist and Ecological View Toward Liberation. Do you read French? I am very influenced by French anthropologists and ethnologists, especially the feminist ones. Do read L'Arraisonnement des femmes: Essais en anthropologie des sexes, ed. by Nicole-Claude Mathieu. I don't think that it has been translated yet, but watch for it, it's a very powerful book. Hope this is helpful to you. Bill. Stephanie, I lost your address when I accidently deleted a mail file and thus I cannot mail you the paper I promised; however, I will send it if you provide me with your address again. Louie, I don't know if you are back yet, but I received the manuscipt; incidently, I met the young professor last summer when he was in Bloomington--he is completing the doctorate here and came to spend time with his lover; he was here again over break and I had them over for dinner. Gabriel, on the pink triangle, I think that was a brilliant piece that you wrote. I have never been able to bring myself to wear a pink triangle either as an ornament or on a tee shirt or sweat shirt. I think that the triangle has come to mean a sort of "sign", a point of refence and identification for many, but as you say, perhaps we should cling to the symbols which affirm our inclusion in the human community and not those which excise us. Perhaps deep in my psyche I have felt this all along, but I never analyzed it really, I had never thought of why I had never been able to do this. I have often wanted to wear one, but could never bring myself to purchase one or place such a symbol on my being. But the triangle does serve as a reminder, of tragedy, and too, of hope. That in remembering, we will not forget the horror of human ignorance and delusion, but will cling steadfast to the amazing potential of humanity while recognizing our flaws and failures, our fears and our greed, our egos and our deep pains, our laughter and beauty, our freedoms and our limitations-- our efforts for peace, justice and survival. Also, Gabriel, the question you posed on Eddie and Sam, the commedians are difficult and painful to me. I don't know who Sam Kinnison is (I really try to tune out the television for periods of time). Eddie Murphy is one whose behavior I have many problems with, yes. But it's not just his behavior, his comedy routines, it's the whole power structure which back his routines and the distorted images of Blacks which he acts out. 20th century minstrelsly. As a folklorist who is black, this is simply another dissapointment with the representation of our culture, of who we are. I don't think that Eddie even attempts to transform the stereotypes that he uses. Some, perhaps, would argue that he does, that he is taking stereotypes created by whites and exposing them what for they are. I don't think so. What I see when I look at his routines--or what I saw, for I can no longer bear the pain of watching them--is a system of oppression which reveals at once the racism, sexism and homophobia of our culture of violence. Violence in American culture is a type of norm and contributes to the many present dangers to all of our lives and to our governmental policy, both home and abroad. As a nation, we are by no means any kinder or more gentle than the harsh, repressive Reagan era and I fear for my country and the darkness that is just down the road. Many gay people that I know /laugh/ at their own distorted images. I cannot laugh at them anymore because it means being embarrassed at who I am and at qualities of difference which are natural but not laughable. Eddie's remarks on Michael Jackson, for instance, I can only take as irresponsible and dangerous. I think of Michael, in many ways, as a young Langston Hughes (not quite, but similar) and really, for all we know, he may be much more evolved than any of us, more transformed. I respect his wishes to be as he is and to be left alone. He is an amazing human being who is wonderfully talented and illuminating. I like the light that surrounds him. To all, be good to yourselves; opens your windows, let the sun shine in. No matter what happens, We Are Here To Stay! If we aim toward truth, bring forth what is within ourselves, letting all the light shine, it will be like a prison breaking open, an illuminating release! Pass it on. Bill.