In this episode, we look at the Trinidadian “origin story” How the Agouti Lost his Tail, which is about one of the most notorious animal-tricksters in the indigenous storytelling traditions of the Americas.

We look at the unique anatomy of the agouti, tying it into the geography of the region and the fragile sense of identity that often comes with being a “hybrid human.” We relate this back to indigenous concepts of the trickster archetype and look at how the figure of the trickster has expressed itself in Trini society throughout history.

The trickster, with its strong links to indigenous Caribbean shamanism, also highlights global themes of individualism vs collectivism which we touch upon in this episode.

We conclude our session by looking at a subscriber’s dream and tying it into themes of approval and belonging versus the anxiety, fragmentation and social alienation that often comes with being a misfit or social outcast.

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EPISODE MUSIC

"Row Row Row Your Boat" By SoundRoseStudio
 
"Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad" by Pond5
 
Stock Media provided by Borth_Music / Pond5
 
Calypso Steel Drum Trinidad - P5 Music by Pond5