The Primitive Side of Prophesy: A Kleinian Look at Revitalization Movements.

This paper integrates some of Anthony F. C. Wallace's most important ideas about culture change with some of Melanie Klein's best-known work on psychologically primitive (or early) mental states. The purpose of the paper is twofold. First, viewing what Wallace termed 'revitalization movements' through a Kleinian lens reveals that such movements are often far less adaptive and therapeutic than Wallace's work generally indicates.1 Second, and more importantly, viewing these movements from a Kleinian perspective highlights the parallels between them and contemporary religious movements frequently described as 'fundamentalist,' especially Christian, Islamic, and Jewish movements.2 In the course of developing these arguments, the paper suggests that although the works of Wallace and Klein now appear dated, scholars interested in understanding new movements motivated by a felt need to purify and revitalize what some perceive as a corrupted culture might profit from revisiting and synthesizing these works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]