Re: Otherness

Adrienne Dearmas (DearmasA@AOL.COM)
Tue, 17 Oct 1995 09:36:55 -0400

In a message dated 95-10-14 09:48:18 EDT, ETABORSK@ARUS.UBISHOPS.CA (E.
Taborsky) writes:

>(1) I am NOT saying that the Other exists, in itself. It most
>definitely does not, but it exists as a potentiality to become
>existent, and this potentiality limits the extensionality (physical
>and conceptual) of the Entity

I am fascinated by the concept and social construction of self and other.
With reference to body mutilations (which is what I study), other must exist
as an entity (individual or group) in order for the body mutilation practice
to act as a means of seperating the self from the other. I.e. my ears are
pierced but my nose is not. I am weak in this theory area and am interested
in learning more. How can other be anything else but oppositional to self?
Doesn't the existence of other create and define self?