FRONTIER: A MODERN IMAGINARY

Abstract

IN THIS STUDY, I PRESENT AN ANALYSIS OF FRONTIER AS A MODERN IMAGINARY. I ARGUE THAT IF WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS POPULAR IMAGINARY THEN IT IS NECESSARY TO ANALYZE HOW FRONTIER IS USED AS A METAPHOR IN NARRATIVE. BY INVESTIGATING HOW NEW A SPATIAL METAPHOR HAS EMERGED WITH THE CIRCULATION OF CERTAIN SPATIAL NARRATIVES, WE ARE ABLE TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO A UNIQUELY MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL IMAGINARY. IN THIS STUDY I HAVE EXAMINED HOW THE KACHIN PEOPLE THEMSELVES APPROPRIATED THE RHETORIC OF MODERN TRANSFORMATION. THE KACHIN HAVE ENDORSED THE NARRATIVE OF MODERN TRANSFORMATION BY FASHIONING THEMSELVES AS A PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRANSFORMED THEMSELVES. ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY USED TO BE TRIBAL BUT NOW THEY ARE MODERN. THIS DISCURSIVE CENTERING OF THE KACHIN HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH COLLECTIVE SELF-FASHIONING CALLED RELIGIOUS CONVERSION. BY CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY?BY CONDUCTING MISSIONS INTO REMOTE PLACES AND BY NARRATING HOW THEY IDENTIFIED THEIR OWN FRONTIERS, THEY HAVE FASHIONED THEMSELVES AS