| Description |
xii, 445 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 397-427) and index. |
| Summary |
"Captain Bligh and the voyage of the Bounty are the starting point of this new study of the famous mutiny in history, literature and film. By juxtaposing an account of the mutiny with an analysis of its evolving place in history and culture, Mr. Bligh's Bad Language offers a new interpretation of the mutiny in the context of its historical and cultural representations." "Beginning with an analysis of naval life and ritual aboard the Bounty, Greg Dening argues that the famous mutiny did not take place due to punitive violence, as Captain Bligh is shown to be one of the least violent of British Navy captains. Instead, he argues, Captain Bligh misunderstood the theatrical nature of shipboard life, especially his role as captain." "Moving to a larger stage, the scope of the book shifts to the reception of the mutiny in England in the eighteenth century. Connecting the voyage of the Bounty with the cultural exploration and revolutions of the age, Greg Dening shows that a mythology arose almost immediately around the participants of the mutiny and their actions, a mythology that has been continually reinterpreted into twentieth century literature and film." "Gracefully written, Mr. Bligh's Bad Language is an anthropological history of a new order, weaving the history of the Bounty with its role in our culture. Using a range of influences from Diderot to Foucault, Greg Dening reconstructs the voyage of the Bounty as moving between history and mythology, circumventing a dozen discourses."--BOOK JACKET. |
| Contents |
Act 1. The Ship. Scene i. Narrative. Fatal Histories. Mr. Bligh's Bad Language. Mr. Christian's Lot. Sad Passions and Damned Oeconomy. Scene ii. Reflection. Some Cliometrics of Violence. Some Non-Cliometrics of Violence. Iudicatio (law) and Coercio (force). Dreams of Perfect Naval Discipline. Midshipmanship. Captaining. Texts for Discipline. White Jacket -- Entr'acte: Sharks That Walk On The Land -- Act 2. The Beach. Scene i. Narrative. Between Land and Sea. An Icon of the Beach. Flags and Feather Girdles. Interlude: On Sacrifice. Another Sort of Altar Stone. Managing the Sublime. Scene ii. Reflection. In the Name of the Revolution . . . of the King . . . of the President. Going Native. Possessing Others with a Laugh -- Entr'acte: Ralph Wewitzer: The First 'Captain Bligh' -- Act 3. The Island. Scene i. Narrative. A Murderous Settlement. 'Innocence Better Imagined than Described'. 'Poore Orfing'. Politics on Pitcairn. Scene ii. Reflection. Representation and the Contribution of Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson to Cultural Literacy. |
| Subject |
Bounty Mutiny, 1789.
|
|
Bligh, William, 1754-1817.
|
|
Pitcairn Islands -- History.
|
| Indexed Term |
Navies Mutinies |
| ISBN |
0521383706 hardback |
|
9780521383707 hardback |
|
