Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 21:35:35 +0000
From: David Henderson <henderson-AT-dial.pipex.com>
Subject: Re: "Fantastic rides" and Fanon


>Hello all,
>
>I'm currently in a graduate seminar on Fanon, and we've been stuck on a
>question of the meaning of a particular passage. I'm hoping perhaps someone
>on the list might be able to shed some light on this (or maybe knows
>someone who could).
>
>In "The Wretched of the Earth," in the chapter "Concerning Violence," Fanon
>talks about "the phenomena of the dance and of possession." In this
>context, he mentions "symbolical killings, fantastic rides, imaginary mass
>murders" (p. 57 in most editions of this book). The symbolical killings and
>the mass murders we understand, but it's the "fantastic rides" that have us
>stumped. I checked the original French, but it was no more helpful - there,
>it's "chevauchee figurative," which means a symbolic horse ride, as near as
>I can figure. Our guess so far is that this refers to a particular kind of
>tradition that we aren't aware of, but I'd certainly like to know more.
>
>So, does anyone know what sort of tradition this "fantastic ride" might
>refer to?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Miriam
>
>
>----------------------------------
>mschacht-AT-mail.utexas.edu  (Miriam Schacht)
>
>Assistant Instructor, Dept. of English
>University of Texas at Austin
>Parlin 108, Campus Mail Code B5000
>Austin, TX 78712
>
>
>
>
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Presumably he is referring to shamanic journeys undertaken in trance. 
There is also a tradition of mystical journeys through the spheres on 
horseback.

David
-- 
David Henderson
90B Harberton Road
London N19 3JP
Tel. 020-7263 9525


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