tricksterstuff

[kslater]

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The suggestion was made that the trickster functions as a kind of
cultural pressure release valve, by reflecting behavior that may be
desired but is culturally forbidden. I think it is probably necessary
that a trickster reflect culturally condemned behavior (almost by
definiton) but the character i think is more complex, in that tricksters
are often culture founders as well. They make the rules and they can
break the rules? This made me think of the story of Job. He who made
the rules has a certain leeway of action not given to the creation? The
trickster character does not seem to me as one who is a revolutionary,
wanting to change the cultural rules, even though they may hold these
rules up for a certain amount of riducule. Breaking the rules is not
for mere mortals but only the trickster can break them and get away, or
even prosper by it. I would think in these societies the thought of
changing the rules would be quite humorous in itself, as it would be
unthinkable, except through perhaps trickster symbols. As UU's the
thought of changing cultural rules seems to be second nature with us,
and so we are inclined to take feminists, and socialists, and ists of
all sorts quite seriously.