Zwarte Piet and Cultural Aphasia in the Netherlands

摘要: In recent articles American historian Ann Laura Stoler has introduced the concept of ‘aphasia’ for describing metaphorically cultural ‘inability to recognize things in world and assign proper names them’, especially matters relating colonial past Western societies. Taking this as a lead, author analyzes an incident Netherlands November 2011, when two young black Dutchmen were arrested wearing T-shirt on which phrase ‘Zwarte Piet is racism’ was printed. Zwarte [Black Peter] imaginary character blackface acting helper Sinterklaas, central figure Dutch ritual gift-giving thas its apex 5 December. For some decades now, there been debate precise nature blackface. By large deny, again case aftermath arrest, any relation portrayal caricature person, producing instead associations that are difficult grasp. After presenting arguments opponents such connection, termed racist, focuses performance context Piet’s presence, order try understand why generally fail make connection. epilogue makes plea going beyond mere conclusion contested. Sharing himself protesters’ perception being his view metaphor aphasia obliges professional ethnologists re-associate connection well, known general public. ‘Colonial histories’, writes, ‘raise unsettling questions about what it means know not something simultaneously, implicit because goes without saying, or cannot be thought, can thought but said’. This matter either/or, neat distinction between ‘stubborn ignorance sudden knowledge’. Rather, do with ‘the confused clogged spaces between’ (2011, 121-122). Denouncing concepts ‘collective amnesia’ inadequate, she proposes denote mental opera