Coercive Names: Interpreting Mark 5:1â13 with Althusserâs âInterpellationâ
In: Biblical InterpretationSearch for other papers by Joseph Kimmel in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
This article addresses a significant lacuna in Markan studiesâand specifically in scholarship on Mark 5:1â13âby reading the exorcistic encounter between Jesus and Legion through the hermeneutic lens of Louis Althusserâs interpellation theory. The article shows how interpellation provides a compelling way to account for the dynamics of exorcism displayed in this passage, especially in regard to the power of proper names. That is, moving beyond a superficial ascription of Jesusâ exorcistic success to his ability to obtain Legionâs name, this article utilizes interpellation theory in order to show why this onomastic obtainment is such a game-changer and how the process of requesting anotherâs name effectively interpellates Legion, securing the spirit within an ideology of relative weakness vis-Ã -vis Jesus. Alongside this analysis of Mark 5:1â13, this article also discusses the comparative relevance of certain pgm spells (e.g., I.222â31, iv.2251â53, 2343â45, and viii.1â63) and the enduring role of interpellation in contemporary hierarchies.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 707 | 199 | 16 |
| Full Text Views | 156 | 15 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 323 | 39 | 2 |
Coercive Names: Interpreting Mark 5:1â13 with Althusserâs âInterpellationâ
In: Biblical InterpretationSearch for other papers by Joseph Kimmel in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article addresses a significant lacuna in Markan studiesâand specifically in scholarship on Mark 5:1â13âby reading the exorcistic encounter between Jesus and Legion through the hermeneutic lens of Louis Althusserâs interpellation theory. The article shows how interpellation provides a compelling way to account for the dynamics of exorcism displayed in this passage, especially in regard to the power of proper names. That is, moving beyond a superficial ascription of Jesusâ exorcistic success to his ability to obtain Legionâs name, this article utilizes interpellation theory in order to show why this onomastic obtainment is such a game-changer and how the process of requesting anotherâs name effectively interpellates Legion, securing the spirit within an ideology of relative weakness vis-Ã -vis Jesus. Alongside this analysis of Mark 5:1â13, this article also discusses the comparative relevance of certain pgm spells (e.g., I.222â31, iv.2251â53, 2343â45, and viii.1â63) and the enduring role of interpellation in contemporary hierarchies.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 707 | 199 | 16 |
| Full Text Views | 156 | 15 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 323 | 39 | 2 |
