Video: Outcasts Flashcards
3 Groups Focused on in the Video
Witches in Africa, Lepers in India, Lizardman in America
In most of the contemporary world, witches, ghosts and goblins are imaginary. But in Africa…
the notion of witchcraft is very real, the spiritual world is equally as prevalent as the physical world
Those capable of inflicting harm are greatly feared
Sanka was accused of… after…
witchcraft, after a man died and the shaman decided it was her who did it, her whole life was apart of this town
The fate of her whole life is dependent on..
the sacrifice of the chicken (used when they can’t decide on whether someone is guilty or not - depends on whether the chickens legs end down or up)
The chicken’s legs ended
down so sanka is determined guilty, this is a sign that the priest has been guided by ancestors (this validates his authority)
Is Sanka’s son supporting her innocence?
Belief in witches is so strong that even her son is unsure of her innocence
What happened to Sanka
Sanka was banished rather than killed because it was believed she had no control over what she has done – because they don’t know what they’re doing is it right to kill them?
What does Sanka have to do to be accepted?
To be accepted in the witch village she has to perform a ritual to purify herself
Did Sanka believe she was innocent?
The notion is so strong even she believed she was possessed, however the ritual purifies her as a new person
Can Witches ever leave the outcast village?
It is believed if the witch ever leaves the protection of the witch village they will be repossessed
Witches in Ghana have been accused of… and are mostly…
Witches accused in Ghana are mostly women and have been accused of droughts, death of children etc..
How does Sana fit into the Witch community compared to Sanka?
Sana is an outcast in an outcast society because she is younger than the other women whereas Sanka is more at home
Was Sana allowed to bring anything with her?
She was only allowed to bring 1 of her 3 children
What did the dying boy instruct the village to do with his corpse?
Young boy who was dying said that his corpse would give them guidance if they carry his corpse through the village
What did the community do with the corpse?
The men rammed the corpse at Sana’s house after it “revealed” that she had killed them, they wouldn’t let her speak and tried to kill her
What is used in ritual to purify a witch?
A chicken, liquor and money must be brought to purify herself – the chicken died on its back signalling that her purification and new life was accepted by the spirits
What were the social consequences for the man with leprosy?
He was driven out of his village, rejected by his family, denied food, water and left to die because he has leprosy.
A social worker came to take him to a centre to treat leprosy
Why was the man cast out?
He was cast out by fear, the villagers thought they would catch his disease, he probably wont ever be allowed to return, his family will likely never see him again
What did the villagers do after he left?
They burn his shelter after he leaves
What has the hatred of leprosy turned into?
A symbol of all things fearful
What were people with leprosy forced to wear?
Bells and Signs to warn of their approach
Is Leprosy contagious? Is anyone immune to it?
Leprosy is not contagious is easily cured – you can’t catch it by touching someone, sharing food, it is very difficult to contract. 95% of humans are naturally immune to leprosy, for those who contract it it is completely curable
What is leprosy?
It is a bacteria that attacks skin, muscles and nerves – the social stigma is worse than the disease
What is thought to be a cause of leprosy?
People with leprosy are seen as being to blame, they have committed sins they aren’t confessing to so they are being punished by god
What will happen to the woman with leprosy?
Doctors visit a village and check for early signs of leprosy, a newlywed comes forward and has white patches on her arm and has lost use of her finger, she asked her face to be blurred, if it gets out that she has it she will be left to live on the street
How do people know you have leprosy?
The visual signs make it impossible to hid the disease
What is the treatment centre the social worker and nurses took the man to?
Sumanahalli
After being cured will people be allowed back in the society?
Not likely, the physical defects are permanent and they will still be outcast
What is different about Lizardman from the other 2 outcasts?
He has chosen to be an outcast by changing himself into half lizard
What are Lizardman’s features?
Eric Sprague who tattooed his whole body to look like a lizard, he also has webbed feet, a forked tongue, eyebrow implants, nipple piercing and had his teeth sharpened
What does Eric say about the word ‘freak’
Freak used to mean people who were different - born that way they didn’t choose it – Eric chose to be a ‘freak’
Where does Eric perform?
He performs, at tattoo conventions, he says many aren’t willing to accept themselves, tattoo conventions are full of people who celebrate his uniqueness
What about Eric’s wife?
His wife has tattoos and piercings that she can hide because she works as a mortgage broker
Was Eric always a freak?
He grew up normally, was an honours student and athlete who went on to study performance art. He wanted to change his appearance so much he could challenge the notion of what it means to be human and possibly set himself aside from humans. He sends a message that he doesn’t want to fit in.
What so powerful about Eric’s appearance?
It’s a very powerful signal to see a body different from ours.
Body modification signals that inside you know you don’t fit in.
Eric thinks that being abnormal is… and normality is a …
Being abnormal is a way of staying true to himself. He sees normality as a myth
What does Eric’s appearance ultimately say about him?
His transformation was a calculated message to everyone else, Whether we conform or rebel we are sending messages about ourselves
What has changed about the meaning of tattoos?
Tattoos marked job, tribes, family membership in the navy and tribes, today it marks people as a subculture of outsiders. Some at the tattoo show see him as a hero, for most, tattoos are to be hidden from view.
What provides acceptance for deviants?
Those who go to the extreme can rely on others who are apart of their community, it
Provides a context, a place of safety and support for people to modify themselves.
Many people have trouble tolerating difference among others, we feel threatened
