bandito - 09 March 2009 09:48 AM
For several jubilant centuries hence, the mythohistoric wild child has yet been delightfully provoking bourgeois society’s growing fascination with our dark, metaphysical subconscious. But for the cerebral genesis thereof, Genevese philosopher JJ Rousseau 1712-78 first had didactic Émile, ou de l’éducation published in 1762 to help titillate those more speculative imaginations back then, who also belonged to a highly ambivalent era in contemporary France. Thus while yon tenacious maiden republic was already torn by civil strife between white & blue partisans, besides tragically fraught with Napoleon Bonaparte’s relentless imperialism abroad, Victor de l’Aveyron himself destined to be the most sensational Wild Boy unexpectedly came to full recognition in propitious 1797 as though iconic avatar c. mere age nine to all Western humanity, ever so despairing of cruel war and persistent toil; his rapid transformation, moreover, from troglodyte foundling to gentleman Übermensch soon deceased in 1828 would much later provide suitably for the cinematic adaptation of Francois Truffaut L’Enfant sauvage just in 1970, and for clearly ilke albeit Engl. marquee Wild Child both in 1991 and once again forthcoming this very year.
I realize bandito is no longer with us, but he got me onto this subject which fascinated me at the time. It was in some other thread,
which I have not taken the time to look up, not that it matters now. But maybe bandito still is linked to this site, and I want him to
know that I finally was able to find a copy of the movie “L’enfant sauvage”, in French. I have watched it twice now and am very
impressed with M.Itard and his attempt to civilize the child back in l790’s . The boy is said to be 11 or 12 however, not nine years of
age, but I suppose the point is mute hereupon. Obviously,as the movie implies, he had to have been abandoned not as an infant
but at least five years of age, or survival would have been impossible. And the movie implies someone tried to abandon him , perhaps
even thought they killed him, as many of the scars he had were animal-made, but the one on the neck shows someone tried to cut
his throat. There are many other things I liked, but at least, wanted bandito to know I found the Wild Boy of l’Aveyron. Thank you.
