The body as a locus of the supernatural power in Guibert’s de Nogent autobiography

Part of : Το βήμα των κοινωνικών επιστημών ; Vol.ΙΑ, No.44, 2005, pages 33-47

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33-47
Parallel Title:
Το σώμα ως τόπος του υπερφυσικού στην αυτοβιογραφία του Γιβέρτου του Νοζάν
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We propose to study Guibert’s de Nogent (1053 - c.1125) Memoirs, its «heterology», i.e. the references to Jews and heretics. Medieval bodies are texts on which cultural narratives are inscribed. One of these narratives is the obstinate idea that the Christian world should be homogeneous. In the narrative strategy followed by Guibert, Jews although culturally central are transformed into marginal shadows exercising evil power. Contrary to what has been argued, the use of sexual categories has to do less with Guibert's personality and more with the cultural categories that he disposes and needs in order to construct otherness in a hierarchical mode. He constructs the Jew as an animal, essentially different from the Christian. He follows a double strategy: First he marginalizes the Jew by offering him a secondary role as a mediator for the Devil that threatens Christian bodies. Secondly, he gives to all his sexual fantasies the appearance of supernatural expressions. In this case the supernatural functions as an effet de réel.
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Special issue "History and Social sciences", "Sexuality and powers"., Περιέχει σημειώσεις και βιβλιογραφία