Necessary Work

Art of the possible.

trees near river during golden hour

It was a time of redreaming, of finding our way. The old compass was broken. We wanted to learn to make new. It is possible, we reminded one another, to do this.

Where mass death pervades, it contaminates the horizon of the possible. There is a very thin line, in these times, between rebirth and psychosis.

To be reborn in an age of mass death means that you will speak and act in ways not encouraged as you push against the killing, which has its way by silence.

***

These are notes made over a brilliant conversation between Amal Khalaf and Adelita Husni Bey, featured in the most recent issue of  BOMB magazine. One point of particular interest to me involved discussion of the work of Italian anthropologist, Ernesto de Martino. The second paragraph is a paraphrase of de Martino.

Author: Stacey C. Johnson

I keep watch and listen, mostly in dark places.

6 thoughts on “Necessary Work”

  1. I have to agree with the second paragraph, “There is a very thin line, in these times, between rebirth and psychosis.” What a brilliant way of phrasing it.

    1. I am grateful to be introduced to DiMartino’s thinking. I look forward to reading more of his work.

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