Social Role
The social role of the Plains Indian clowns was ceremonial since they performed primarily during rituals, dances and feasts. Unlike the clowns, the special role of the Contraries was not restricted to brief performances, rituals or the warpath. It was their everyday life. The Contraries of the Plains Indians were unique and historically unprecedented. John Plant examined the ethnological phenomena of contrary behavior, particularly in the tribes of the North American Plains Indians.
The Contraries of the Plains Indians were individuals committed to an extraordinary life-style in which they consistently and continually did the opposite of what others normally do. They thus turned all social conventions into their opposites. On a certain level, the Contrary acted as an antagonist to his own people.
Contrary behavior means deliberately doing the opposite of what others routinely or conventionally do. It was usually accompanied by inverse speech, in which one says the opposite of what one actually means. For example, “no!” expresses “yes!” And “hello” means “goodbye”. To say “Grandfather, go away!” would be an invitation for him to come.
Read more about this topic: Contrary (social Role)
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