Outer Reaches of the Palindrome Page: 25
View a full description of this thesis.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
once that awareness, that alertness and openness, has been achieved through the initial
shock, then it is possible to communicate on another level through the use of humor. As I
see it, all this puts the mind of the person involved in a frame which relates to the humor
of the situation, thus serving to open doors to a realm greater than that of ordinary life. It
does this extremely effectively, because all of this takes place, as I have suggested, within
a very serious ritual or dance-drama context, which involves enormous concentration,
great attention to the minute details of the rites of the ceremonies that are being carried
out- and the rigors of all this demand some kind of relief, some way in which what is
being stated through the rites can be translated onto a much deeper level, transcending the
activities, or the forms and motions of the rite itself. Thus shock and humor open into
another realm. It is a very Zen-like technique, it seems to me.18
This aspect of contrariness seems to involve a type of reversal on the thematic level. The
viewer is taken on a journey, starting from a sense of the mundane, or normalcy, arrives at
shock/humor/enlightenment, and then works back to the point of origin, is most likely altered in
some way. This process parallels the shamanic and hallucinogen-induced voyage, the
schizophrenic voyage, and the hero-voyage. According to mythologist Joseph Campbell, all of
these "voyages" share the common thread of process: departure, enlightenment (or impact of
some type), and return. One might say that the palindrome is a textual symbol of this process,
departing from the first letter, traveling to the axis, then returning through the sequence
backward and ending up at the initial letter: abba.
Furthermore, like the shamanic and hallucinogenic voyage, the clowns of the Pueblos
induce departure and are expected to do so. "A Heyhoka is one who has the obligation- and it is
a very weighty sanction that is imposed on such a person- to do things in ways which break25
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This thesis can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Thesis.
McConnell, Michael Constantine. Outer Reaches of the Palindrome, thesis, December 2003; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4407/m1/28/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .