Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id AAA20530 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 3 May 2001 00:57:13 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.215] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: RE: Dance craze Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 19:53:00 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F159J8uT6Ssuot0OUIH0000023e@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 May 2001 23:53:01.0031 (UTC) FILETIME=[0549A770:01C0D363] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: RE: Dance craze
>Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 13:56:28 +0100
>
>I was thinking ergot, but then worried I was getting confused with
>ingots...
>
My confusion could be stemming from memory interference between Saint
Anthony's fire which according to my dictionary (_Merriam Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary_ (10th edition)) could relate to ergotism and a skin
condition versus Saint Vitus's dance which is defined as chorea.
I recall ergotism being linked to something historical, but I'm at a loss
for the specifics.
My dictionary also defines something called St. Elmo's fire, which brings us
back to Demi Moore (a famous alumnus of General Hospital)> I guess my memory
for soap operas is better than for obscure historical events and their
putative causes.
>
>Thanks for the weblink, v.interesting.
>
>Vincent
>
> > ----------
> > From: Douglas Brooker
> > Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2001 12:37 pm
> > To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > Subject: RE: Dance craze
> >
> > > I may be wrong but I believe, dance crazes in Europe were closely
> > associated
> > > with outbreaks of the plague, and dance crazes were often the results
> > of the
> > > profound psychological impact of plagues on small commmunities.
> > Exactly why
> > > dance became the favoured outlet, I don't know. Maybe people thought
> >
> > > vigourous movement kept the plague at bay.
> >
> > Here's a link on an outbreak of St Vistus's Dance in 1418.
> >
> > http://plague.law.umkc.edu/Books/hecker/Death13.htm
> >
> >
> > > A similar occurrence that comes to me is the recent argument that
> > witch
> > > hunts were closely related to certain kinds of food poisoning (I
> > forget the
> > > damn condition now, I know it had to do with rye) that produced the
> > fever,
> > > hallucinations, and violent spasms that people of the time
> > interpreted as
> > > bewitchment. They would then looked for someone unpopular in the
> > community
> > > to declare a witch, and hang, burn etc.
> >
> > Ergotism, rye infected with the fungus "Claviceps purpurea" - there is
> > a chemical relationship with lysergic acid.
> >
> > Alcohol is a likely candidate. Also events like witchhunts or
> > revolutions can be used to settle old scores or as means of acquiring
> > other's property (as in the american and other revolutions)
> >
> > D
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > ===============================================================
> > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
> >
>
>===============================================================
>This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
>Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
>For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
>see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
>
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