-
JOHN BROWN: PORTRAIT OF A MARTYR AS AN OLD [MAD]MAN
- Editor(s):
- Kreg Abshire (see profile)
- Date:
- 2017
- Subject(s):
- Slavery, Culture--Study and teaching, United States
- Item Type:
- Article
- Tag(s):
- John Brown, madness, Abolition, American cultural studies
- Permanent URL:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6M90229W
- Abstract:
- Yet, there is one final consideration to be made with regards to the supposed historical “truth” of Brown’s alleged “madness” or “martyrdom,” respectively. Even if a modern medical, neurobiological, or psychological analysis of Brown was possible, it is highly likely that his actions would be considered within the realms of what psychologists call a “clinical population.” That is, his class of behaviours stretched beyond the limits—psychological, mental, physical—of the normative, “healthy population.” But is it not this “madness” that always makes a martyr? In the specific case of Brown, the issue is complicated by competing layers of cultural memory. Brown’s purposeful actions against an indisputably cruel national institution should not be regarded as “insane.” Yet cultural carriers—books, paintings, interest groups, museum inscriptions—continue to suggest otherwise. Perhaps, this is why I was so enthralled by Balling’s painting in the first place. At once heroic and wild, dignified and violent, it remains a true, timeless, and aptly ambiguous portrait of a Martyr and Madman.
- Metadata:
- xml
- Published as:
- Journal article
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 5 years ago
- License:
- Attribution-NonCommercial
Downloads
Item Name: 
quarterly-horse-2.1-www.quarterlyhorse.org-fall17-sood.pdfDownload View in browser Activity: Downloads: 209
