ABSTRACT
In his 2007 Massey Lectures, Alberto Manguel introduces the ancient, mythic, epic story of the superhuman Gilgamesh, a king who violently abuses his power. 1 In response to the people’s cry for help, the Gods create a counterpart to moderate Gilgamesh’s desires and actions: a creature that is King Gilgamesh’s opposite. Whereas Gilgamesh is two-thirds divine and one-third human, the ‘monster’ Enkidu is two parts animal and one part human. Although Enkidu is gentle, he is different and evokes fear in those who encounter him: Invitation
By means of an epic poem and stories from two inspirational practitioners, we invite you to join us at the edge of your comfort. Reflecting on what Paulo Freire calls the ‘subject–object–dialect’, we join Pamela Ponic and Margo Fryer in exploring ways to be part of promoting everyone’s role as a social actor in community.
The double is human and yet not entirely so; of flesh and blood but with an element of unreality because we fail to recognize or identify every one of his actions.… He is our neighbour, our equal, but also the foreigner, the one who does things differently, has a different colour, or speaks a different language. To better differentiate us from him, we exaggerate his superficial characteristics. 2
