On Self and Licensed Solitude: 'That very private fella, me'
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 00:59authored bySansom, B
This essay is written to show that a liminal, in-between space of withdrawal and dilly-dally disassociation can harbour a special station of the self. Further, I propose that incumbency of this station is, from time to time, essential. Life lived always and only in group-dependant association would be insupportable. My case is made with reference to Aborigines of northern Australia who say that they 'run' together in mobs. Nonetheless, I see mis essay as a culturally specific contribution to a general category for investigation - the sociology of licensed solitude. As it happens, my illustrative case has licensed solitude functioning sometimes and additionally as retreat or hermitage - that station of withdrawal into which a person enters when turning away from fellow-humans to seek inspiration from a Power. I compare the licensed solitude of the Aboriginal Countrymen with that of the academic who requires solitude as a station for that free interplay of primary and secondary imagination which sometimes may produce the anthropological sublime.
History
Publication title
Oceania
Volume
79
Pagination
65-84
ISSN
0029-8077
Department/School
School of Humanities
Publisher
Oceania Publications
Place of publication
Univ Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2006
Rights statement
Copyright 2009 Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney