Word: shamans
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Contrary to the judgment that would be given by most U.S. physicians, K. was not "mad" in the opinion of his fellows. He became one of the most respected members of his community-a leader in the practice of medicine. For K. is a shaman among the Yakut, a primitive tribe of fishermen and reindeer hunters in the arctic wastes of eastern Siberia. Moral drawn by State of Mind: one man's madness in one society is another's greatness in a different culture...
After a mild demonstration in Mr. Mittell's favor quieted down, the band really gave cause for cheering by playing Mr. Finnegan's "Variations On A Well-Known Theme." The theme was "Marching to Pretoria" and was played as Sousa might have, then in the style of Walter Shaman's "Dragnet" theme, and again after the manner of Spike Jones. Finally, the band imitated the Katzenjammer Kids by singing the song in Dutch. It was a very successful number...
...very different from calling in a witch-doctor to primeval hut," he says. "The words and the rites . . . have become more specialized, as has the method of payment. The occasion, however, has not altered at all and for that matter the obstetrician has not much more idea than the shaman why that particular child should try to be born sideways...