Porousness, theater, possession, being consumed, death, sanctity: Narratives from the field with a radical street performer

Abstract

The paper reflects on the experiences of the porous body of a radical street performer from Medellin, Colombia. His narratives emphasize the reciprocal relationship between the knower and the known: as Ingold suggests, “to know things you have to grow into them and let them grow in you so that they become part of who you are.” Furthermore, his narratives help to unravel the underlying threads of his actions, and the construction of his porous subjectivity. The article contributes to our understanding of mimesis in anthropological discourse, the relational and embodied nature of human existence, and the role of possession in cultural resistance and social transformation. Following Bernardo's pedagogy, the writing interweaves poetry, narrative, and theoretical concepts in seeking not to close meaning, but to open spaces to be inhabited.