4/20/04: Zebras on My Mind
"What is that Zebra-striped figure hanging
on the wall there? What does that represent?" The customer
was referring to a traditional carving of the Koshare clown.
I smiled as I thought about how misunderstood these colorful
characters sometimes are - and by colorful, I obviously mean
in personality. Earlier the same week another woman had spotted
a Kasaile clown by Lowell Talashoma and commented on how appealing
he was to her, and with a quick glance she said, "Oh, and
that one too!" referring to a piece by Neil David Sr.. However,
she suddenly withdrew her comment when she noticed he was grabbing
for his loincloth, by saying, "Oh no, no… he's rather
lewd." It's usually the first impression of most visitors
unfamiliar with the Hopi culture and the special role that the
Koshare play within the society. I brought the figure forward
where she could see it from a better angle, when she discovered
that the clown was in fact being harassed by a dog that had ahold
of his shorts. She seemed relieved, and, with the element of
embarrassment reduced, she asked me what their function is.
I always enjoy having the opportunity to talk about
the clowns. I explained to her that they represent humanity -
or humankind. Their public display of ignorance and folly is
a satire depicting our frailties and imperfections. Onlookers
will hopefully see some of themselves in the Koshare's erratic
behavior and learn from it. One of their primary functions is
to show the people what not to do - by doing it! Everyone has
a hilariously good time when the clowns show up, and the Koshare
take advantage of every opportunity to act foolish and misbehave.
It's an important outlet and a venue for behaviors that would
otherwise be taboo. But this is how the Katsinam view the people
- imperfect and in need of teaching. Uninitiated visitors will
often mistake the Koshare's antics as crude and embarrassing.
My wife was just such a visitor when she saw the
clowns in one of the first plaza dances she had the opportunity
of attending. When we returned home later that evening she asked
me if I had noticed what "those black and white striped
kachinas" were doing. I didn't immediately know what she
was referring to, but it donned on me in almost an instant that
they were probably imitating certain reproductive rites - common
to the Koshare repertoire during certain times of the year. Like
many, and most likely as a result of her western-laden values
and upbringing, she assumed this was unnecessary and inappropriate.
It wasn't until after I had explained to her the sacred function
of those actions (bringing fertility to the land and the people
- thereby ensuring their survival) that she could accept what
she had seen.
Much like their human counter-parts, you never
know what the Koshare will have in store. Pranksters by nature,
it's not uncommon to see them teasing nearby observers, especially
Pahanas who usually have no idea what's going on and almost always
stick out like a sore thumb. In spite of this, I thought it would
be a good idea to take some of my extended family that was visiting
over the Easter holiday to see one of the first plaza dances
of the season at the Tewa village of Hano. We arrived just in
time - just in time for the Koshare to single me out and drag
me into the center of the plaza. At first I tried to turn tail
and depart, but it was to no avail. They weren't going to let
me get away that easily. My wife was again nervous and afraid
of what might happen. Although I wasn't really afraid, I did
suspect that I was about to be humiliated in some way. Maybe
it would be a pie in my face or mud in my hair. Whatever was
about to happen, I resolved to be a good sport about it and have
fun.
To my surprise, I was offered a seat in the center
of the plaza and the clowns heaped food upon my lap with the
familiar Hopi gesture, "sit down and eat, eat!" I still
didn't know what was going on, but I thought I had better do
as I was told. In an exaggerated fashion they bestowed gifts
of food upon me until I could barely keep the pile from spilling
over. They found my wife and brought her to join me. We partook
of some of the offerings and were escorted to the sidelines -
after having endured a few obligatory jabs of course. My wife
and I both came away from the experience having a new light shed
on the Koshare. Prior to this, we both had some degree of reluctance,
which uncertainty seems to be a major ingredient for misunderstanding
and prejudice all over the world.
Like the woman who needed to see the carving from
a new angle in order to properly appreciate and understand, perhaps
we can reserve our own judgments until we have the proper perspective
on various aspects of our own lives. In addition, we might do
well to see a little of ourselves - and our own frailty - in
the world around us and take advantage of the opportunity to
learn from it.
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