A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture
A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture
A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture
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etween humans and God as unth<strong>in</strong>kably vast. 55<br />
The “o<strong>the</strong>r Protestant ethic” strives to close that<br />
gap with <strong>the</strong> spark <strong>of</strong> div<strong>in</strong>ely <strong>in</strong>spired emotion and <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ater <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> revival was calculated to<br />
generate that very spark. Spiritualism strove to close <strong>the</strong> gap with <strong>the</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> direct<br />
communication between heaven and earth. As Spiritualist author E.J. Schellhous would later put<br />
it, “By means <strong>of</strong> persistent efforts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dwellers <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> spirit world, who realize <strong>the</strong> great need<br />
<strong>of</strong> true enlightenment, <strong>the</strong> world <strong>of</strong> mank<strong>in</strong>d is now blessed with <strong>the</strong> glorious assurance that <strong>the</strong><br />
sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g highway between mortals and <strong>the</strong> spirit world is now open.” 56<br />
A <strong>the</strong>atrical style similar to that <strong>of</strong> revivalism was to be found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e show, with<br />
its emphasis on <strong>the</strong> spiel and <strong>the</strong> dramatic testimonial. As Lears argues, <strong>the</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e show<br />
managed to convert <strong>the</strong> style and impulse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> revivalist tent show to materialist ends. The<br />
product testimonial mirrored <strong>the</strong> conversion narrative, sp<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g tales <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> immediate and<br />
radical transformation <strong>of</strong> self. The style <strong>of</strong> oratory employed by peddlers <strong>of</strong>ten recalled that <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> revivalist preacher. This parallel did not go un-remarked-upon by commentators <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day.<br />
As conservative writer Phillip Schaff observed <strong>in</strong> 1844, “Every <strong>the</strong>ological vagabond and<br />
peddler may drive his bungl<strong>in</strong>g trade, without passport or license, and sell his false wares at<br />
pleasure.” 57<br />
Spiritualism was to draw upon <strong>the</strong> traditions <strong>of</strong> dramatic oratory embellished by<br />
revivalism and <strong>the</strong> peddler <strong>of</strong> nostrums, plac<strong>in</strong>g elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>American</strong> carnivalesque <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
context <strong>of</strong> rational progress and thus comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g two central and oppos<strong>in</strong>g strands <strong>of</strong> <strong>American</strong><br />
culture.<br />
55 Lears.<br />
56 W.W. Aber. “A Guide to Mediumship: Given by a Delegation from <strong>the</strong> Star Circle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit World: W.W.<br />
Aber be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> medium for <strong>the</strong> Materialized Spirits who produced it; Evidenced by <strong>the</strong> Sworn Testimony <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Circle who Furnished <strong>the</strong> Conditions,” <strong>in</strong> Spiritualism I: Spiritualist Thought, ed. Gary L. Ward. (New York:<br />
Garland Press, 1990) 5.<br />
57 Lears, 57.<br />
44