The Haiti Exception: Anthropology and the Predicaments of Narrative (Francophone Postcolonial Studies LUP)

A collection of essays from international critics that considers the ways and extent of Haiti's exceptionalisation - its perception in multiple arenas as definitively unique with respect not only to the countries of the North Atlantic, but also to the rest of the Americas. This collection of essays considers the means and extent of Haiti's 'exceptionalization' - its perception in multiple arenas as definitively unique with respect not only to the countries of the North Atlantic, but also to the rest of the Americas. Painted as repulsive and attractive, abject and resilient, singular and exemplary, Haiti has long been framed discursively by an extraordinary epistemological ambivalence. This nation has served at once as cautionary tale, model for humanitarian aid and development projects and point of origin for general theorising of the so-called Third World. What to make of this dialectic of exemplarity and alterity? How to pull apart this multivalent narrative in order to examine its constituent parts? Conscientiously gesturing to James Clifford's The Predicament of Culture (1988), the contributors to The Haiti Exception work on the edge of multiple disciplines, notably that of anthropology, to take up these and other such questions from a variety of methodological and disciplinary perspectives, including Africana Studies, Anthrohistory, Art History, Black Studies, Caribbean Studies, education, ethnology, Jewish Studies, Literary Studies, Performance Studies and Urban Studies. As contributors revise and interrogate their respective praxes, they accept the challenge of thinking about the particular stakes of and motivations for their own commitment to Haiti This Collection Of Essays Considers The Ways And Extent Of Haiti's 'exceptionalisation' - Its Perception In Multiple Arenas As Definitively Unique With Respect Not Only To The Countries Of The North Atlantic, But Also To The Rest Of The Americas. Painted At Once As Repulsive And Attractive, Abject And Resilient, Singular And Exemplary, Haiti Has Long Been Framed Discursively By An Extraordinary Epistemological Ambivalence. The Nation Has Served At Once As Cautionary Tale, Model For Humanitarian Aid And Development Projects, And Point Of Origin For General Theorizing Of The So-called Third World. What To Make Of This Dialectic Of Exemplarity And Alterity? How To Pull Apart This Multivalent Narrative So As To Examine Its Constituent Parts? The Contributors To The Haiti Exception Take Up These And Other Such Questions From A Variety Of Methodological And Disciplinary Perspectives, Among Which Africana Studies, Anthrohistory, Art History, Black Studies, Caribbean Studies, Education, Ethnology, Jewish Studies, Literary Studies, Performance Studies, And Urban Studies. As They Revise And Interrogate Their Respective Praxes, They Accept The Challenge Of Thinking About The Particular Stakes Of And Motivations For Their Own Commitment To Haiti. Engaging In The Decidedly Risky Anthropological Practice Of Reflexivity, The Scholars, Activists And Other Social Actors Gathered Here Consider Their Own Often Fraught Role In Constructing Haiti In And As Narrative. Tracing Intellectual Histories -- The Anthropological Uses Of Haiti: A Longue Durée Approach / Mark Schuller -- Transforming Ethnology: Understanding The Stakes And Challenges Of Price-mars In The Development Of Anthropology In Haiti / Jhon Picard Byron -- On 'being Jewish', On 'studying Haiti' ...herskovits, Métraux, Race And Human Rights / Alessandra Benedicty-kokken -- Haiti, Gender And Anthrohistory: A Mintzian Journey / Laurent Dubois -- Interrogating The Enquiring Self -- 'written With Love': Intimacy And Relation In Katherine Dunham's Island Possessed / Kaiama L. Glover -- Dance, Haiti And Lariam Dreams / Barbara Browning -- 'haitian Art' And Primitivism: Effects, Uses And Beyond / Carlo A. Celius -- On Nation-building: Histories, Theories, Praxes -- Haiti, Politics And Sovereign (mis)recognitions / Deborah A. Thomas -- Haitian Culture In The Informational Economies Of Humanitarian Aid / Valerie Kaussen -- Urban Poetics / Michèle Duvivier Pierre-louis. Edited By Alessandra Benedicty-kokken, Kaiama L. Glover, Mark Schuller And Jhon Picard Byron. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.