Fortschritt ins Nichts : die Modernisierung der primitiven Australiens : Beschreibung und Definition eines psychischen Verfalls / Andreas Lommel
- Bib ID:
- 1738902
- Format:
- Book
- Author:
- Lommel, Andreas
- Description:
-
- Zurich : Atlantis, 1969
- 197 p. : ill. (some col., some fold.) ; 25 cm.
- Summary:
-
Account of vocation dream of budding medicine man, also a number of Announciation dreams, psychic powers, main functions of medicine man; Summarizes in general terms the impact of European industrial civilization on primitive peoples; Clashes between the old Aboriginal culture & modern civilization, ending with complete destruction of the old culture; p.25-35; General description of Broome, attempts by Roman Catholic experimental station to teach mixed-bloods a trade, describes character of mixedbloods, their tendency to abandon the virtuous path recommended by the Catholic Mission, to rent out their wives to Timor sailors; Describes stages in transition, humpies & shacks; p.39-45; Chapter on civilized Aborigines; a Government farm, describes a corroboree, account of the creation story referring to Lalaininge, Ungud, Wondjinas; account of marriage system, present day general life, Aboriginal attitudes; p.49-53; Ancient myth & the creative polarity in the world; dualism represented in dances, ancient affinity with the animal world; details of the totemic creation myth; p.57-78; Enactment of myth, account of performance of two scenes from the myth of Kuranguli & Banar, effect of songs on natives; mythical route of ancestor; Treatment of poet, named Allan, a medicine man, who had contact with the spirits through dreams, association with the dances; account of sequence of verses & timetable for five days p.81-97; Journey to Glenelg R. region, visits to Wondjina caves, explanation from Aboriginal of dryness of country, stories told by Aborigines around campfire - spells for increasing potency; love magic; Author gives character sketch of native companion; compares native life today with his contact 17 years previously; Alligator increase site near Iminschim near Mission Description of Aborigines on Mission; details of Wadi, a convicted murderer; p.101-120; Rock Pictures the Art of the Stone Age; Visit to an Island off N.W. Aust. (not named) apparently never visited by man or animal, rock pictures found description of these; Wondjina art mythical interpretations; Detailed account of Wondjina; reason for subincision, rainmaking, complete world view expressed in this art; described experiences while copying Wondjina paintings; p.125-132; Describes difficulties encountered when trying to obtain information about rock pictures; p.135-140; Mythical stories of the dreamtime, mainly about Ungud, Wondjina, beliefs; p.143-152; Aboriginal women - modern version aspects of womens life, division of labour, marriage, love, sex - describes the Maui dances which entice men, love magic, belief in spiritchildren; p.155-162; Discusses communication by Aborigines with ancestor spirits, draws distinction between medicine man & poet, the role of the medicine man in the group as brain, centre, soul, regulator, safety-valve of the group soul; p.165- 178; Attempts at adaptation to the modern situation, a new cult, civilization regarded as a destructive force, awareness of new diseases, the Kurangara cult an attempt to incorporate European civilization into their own life, detailed explanation; given of Kurangara ceremonies, body painting for ritual, sacred sticks; women permitted to listen to Kurangara songs in evening information on cult learned 17 years previously, present day cult has lost its meaning; p.181-190; No mutual understanding between Aborigines & Europeans, apathy of white Australians to problem; distinguishes three stages of assimilation in remote areas, gradual disappearance of medicine men, present day psychic state compared with past, the changing scene; p.193-197; Problem of the halfcaste, rejected by both races, gives examples.
- Subject:
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1969
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