|
|
|
|
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam > Blaise Pascal Instituut > Girard Studiekring > COV&R 2007 > Abstracts Papers
Paulo Castro Seixas
Mimetic violence, Sacrifice and new dualisms . Translating Tradition in 2006 in Timor-Leste
Email - Profile - Subtheme # 5
ABSTRACT
Timor-Leste
(East-Timor) ancestral myths could be seen as narratives about a way out of
indifferentiation and mimetic violence, even cannibalism, through the process of
constitution of a complementary dualism and through a sacrifice, either real or
symbolic. There are particularly two myths, the Myth of the Crocodile that
became Timor and the Myth of the Two Brothers, both quite representatives
though with variations within Timor-Leste cultural diversity.
The (restoration)
of independence in the 20th of May 2002
was just a particular moment in the re-mythiphication period which the
troublesome transition to independence (since 1999 until present time)
represents. 2006 crisis in Timor-Leste may be perceived as a total cultural
crisis and, as such, as a reproduction of mythic narrative referred above: from
indifferentiation and mimetic violence to the re-stabilization of a (new)
complementary dualism through a sacrifice.
Thus,
understanding the power of tradition in the present situation it is crucial as a
way for the promotion of adequate reconciliation and stable nation-building on
socio-political international intervention on 2007 with Presidential (April) and
Parliament (August) elections.
The
proposal of the paper is to understand the narrative of the two myths referred
above, trough the lent of Girard theory on Mimesis and Sacrifice as well as with
James Fox theory on Complementary Dualism in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the
aim is to discuss present situation in Timor-Leste as a re-mythification period.
Paulo Castro Seixas
Doctorate
in Anthropology
Associate Professor at Fernando Pessoa
University
Vice-President of Doctors of the World - Portugal