Alanna Dailey - Original Visions

Original Visions: Required Reading
A unique feature to oral cultures is their use of binary oppositions. This is different from our society which using thinks in terms of binary pairs. Binary oppositions and binary pairs deal with contrasting concepts. The difference is that binary oppositions are relationship and cyclical, binary pairs are not. Binary pairs include good v. evil, destruction v. creation, etc. The binary pairs state that objects are either this or that (either good or evil). Binary pairs cause segregation, separating us from them. Binary oppositions are written good/evil, destruction/creation, etc. They express that objects can be both good and evil. Binary oppositions enforce the relationship that these concepts have with people and nature.
A good example of a binary opposition is in Carmody and Carmody’s Original Visions. While reading the section on mythical themes in Native Australian and New Zealanders, I learned about the Rainbow Snake (pgs. 88-90). The Rainbow Snake represents both life and death. Carmody and Carmody state that the serpent’s “phallic overtones” contribute to its association with life, and its poisonous bite is associated with death. The Rainbow Snake is also androgynous: the female is nurturing and tender towards her children, but also destroys the children who do not follow the rules; the male can support the healers by giving them power to heal, or not support them and ill remain sick and die.
I love the binary opposition characteristic of oral cultures. It suggests that oral cultures see the world in shades of gray, rather than the black and white. Binary oppositions enforce relationships and moderation. The aboriginals do not reject the Rainbow Snake because of its destructive side; they understand that destruction and death are vital to life. Destruction and death do not exist without creation and life, and life and creation cannot exist without destruction and death.