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On Self and Licensed Solitude: 'That very private fella, me'

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 00:59 authored by Sansom, 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

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in human society

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