2020 00 00 Antipoda - Vol 41 - Espirito Santo

Magazine Overview

This document is an academic article titled "The Possible and the Impossible: Reflections on Evidence in Chilean Ufology," published in Antipoda. Revista de Antropología y Arqueología, issue 41, dated October-December 2020. The article was authored by Diana Espírito Santo and Alejandra Vergara from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. It explores the complex nature of evidence within the field of ufology in Chile.

Abstract and Introduction

The article is based on a year of fieldwork in Chile with ufologists, contactees, abductees, and skeptics, utilizing methods such as ethnography, media analysis, and in-depth interviews. The central argument is that the "UFO" functions as a "theory machine," a concept borrowed from historian of science Peter Galison. This machine generates not only diverse interpretive frameworks for anomalous flying phenomena across different ideological spheres but also establishes thresholds of evidence. The authors propose to view evidence not as something given, but as an ethnographic category, coining the term "evidence-as-possibility." This concept extends beyond the mere existence of UFOs to include spatial configurations and the understanding of anomalous phenomena.

The introduction highlights the growing traction of ufology in Spanish-speaking Americas, noting prominent figures and the vibrant sub-culture of sky-watchers and speculators. Chile is presented as a significant location for sightings, with ufologists like Rodrigo Fuenzalida being public figures. The article posits that Chilean ufology is a complex field, often considered marginal but with significant public engagement.

The Nature of Evidence in Chilean Ufology

The article delves into the concept of "evidence" within Chilean ufology, contrasting positivist scientific interpretations with those that consider alien contact as internal or embodied. It argues that evidence is not monolithic but is partial, based on specific protocols and perspectives, and relational, requiring validation by a wider group. The UFO itself is presented as a "theory machine" that generates a spectrum of evidence, encompassing what is possible and impossible, conceivable and inconceivable.

Two main tendencies in ufology are identified: the "nuts and bolts" approach, seeking physical evidence, and the "religious comparison" or "internal/embodied" approach, focusing on the content of experiences like abductions and contact. The authors suggest that these approaches, while seemingly contradictory, can overlap and co-constitute each other.

UFOs as Theory Machines

Drawing parallels with Helmreich's work on water as a theory machine, the authors propose that UFOs also function as such. They generate "evidence theories" within the ufology movement, leading to a vast array of heterogeneous thinking about evidence. The article emphasizes that this "theory machine" operates on the fringes of conceivability and inconceivability, with fuzzy borders.

Case Studies and Examples

The article discusses several examples to illustrate its points:

• Rodrigo Fuenzalida's perspective: Fuenzalida, a ufologist and alternative therapy practitioner, discusses the syncretism of UFO narratives with Christian cosmology in Chile, viewing it as an extrapolation of religious elements or "contamination."
• The "Friendship" case: This case involves a ham radio operator in Santiago who communicated for fourteen years with inhabitants described as technologically advanced, who also referenced religious figures like the Virgin Mary. This case exemplifies the blend of technological and spiritual elements.
• Historical context: The article references Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting and the Roswell incident as foundational events in the association of UFOs with extraterrestrial technology and conspiracy theories.
• CEFAA (Comité de Estudios de Fenómenos Aéreos Anómalos): This Chilean state organ receives reports of anomalous aerial phenomena. Hugo Camus, its director, describes the challenges of investigation, noting that most reports are post-facto testimonials and that the standard for judging evidence is highly restrictive, focusing on falsification rather than proof.
• Mariano's abduction experience: This case represents the "other end of the spectrum," dealing with an abduction experience to Venus, highlighting internal and spiritual dimensions of UFO encounters.

Paradoxical and Absurd Moments

The article also explores "absurd" moments where the theory machine collapses or goes into overdrive, producing paradoxical events where meaning is difficult to gauge. These are described as intensely paradoxical, involving synchronicity, coincidence, and a lack of representation, where the phenomenon and the theory become indistinguishable.

Conclusion and Themes

The article concludes by emphasizing that evidence in ufology is always underwritten by diverse stakes of possibility and its opposites. It highlights the exclusion of ufological claims from mainstream science, likening ufological "evidence" to Charles Fort's concept of the "damned" – data temporarily excluded from officialism. The study underscores the contingent nature of data instantiation and the multiplicity of evidence-making stakes in ufology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes include the nature of evidence, the role of belief systems, the intersection of science and the paranormal, and the cultural context of ufology in Chile. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical anthropological inquiry, seeking to understand ufological phenomena as cultural and social constructs rather than solely as objective occurrences. The article advocates for a nuanced understanding of evidence that moves beyond purely materialistic or positivist frameworks.

This document is an academic article titled "The Possible and the Impossible: Reflections on Evidence in Chilean Ufology," authored by Diana Espírito Santo and Alejandra Vergara. Published in Antipod. Rev. Antropol. Arqueol. in October-December 2020, it delves into the complex and often unconventional ways that evidence is understood and constructed within the field of ufology, particularly in Chile.

The Nature of Evidence in Chilean Ufology

The article begins by exploring the experience of a ufologist named Mariano, who describes telepathic communication with extraterrestrial beings and a profound shift in his understanding of the universe. Mariano's experience highlights a departure from traditional empirical evidence, suggesting that internal visions and dream-like states can be perceived as more evidential than objective reality. This aligns with a 'New Age' emphasis on self-spirituality and the body as an arbiter of knowledge. The authors note that Mariano de-territorializes the spatial topology of ufology, positing interior visions as places of ultimate truth and evidence.

The article contrasts this with a more skeptical approach, exemplified by CEFAA, which finds little verifiable evidence of UFO phenomena. However, it emphasizes that Mariano's account, while not religious, is empirical in its appeal to a 'totality' that science may one day explain. The authors observe that the Chilean ufological community lacks a single standard of evidence, leading to a proliferation of local knowledge-making modes, each with unique protocols. This results in a situation where many ufologists believe they possess irrefutable evidence, while others might dismiss it as forgeries.

Charles Fort and 'Quasi-Existence'

The article introduces Charles Fort's notion of the 'damned,' referring to anomalous facts in a state of 'purgatory' or 'quasi-existence' – neither fully real nor unreal, but attempts to become real. This concept is applied to UFO phenomena, which are seen as being in a perpetual state of quasi-existence, awaiting assimilation into a scientific system or being deemed irreconcilable. The authors suggest that UFO data is not just seeking recognition but is often in a state of quasi-comprehension.

'Evidence-as-Possibility' and Theory Machines

The authors propose the term 'evidence-as-possibility' as the theory generated by the field of Chilean ufology. They draw upon Isabelle Stengers' concept of 'ontological divergences' and 'ecologies of practice,' arguing that each practice is defined from within. The article posits that UFOs function as 'theory machines,' circumscribing and opening domains of evidentiary possibility particular to groups or communities. This approach views UFOs as relational, semiotic, and material, with controversies and public dissemination playing a key role in shaping their interpretation.

The Case of the Ambiguous Photo

A specific example is given of a controversial photo taken in Parque Forestal, Santiago, in 2004, which appeared to show a small alien. The image, initially presented by a respected ufologist, was later analyzed by photographic experts who suggested it was a dog distorted by the camera's movement. This case illustrates how the 'fuzziness' of evidence can become a relational vector for the ufological community, highlighting the role of technical experts in interpreting and validating potential evidence.

UFOs as Theory Machines and Practical Ontology

The article contrasts Helmreich's view of nature and culture as separate with the primary division in ufology being between the 'possible' and the 'impossible.' It introduces 'practical ontology,' which views ontologies through the materials and objects mobilized in evolving worlds. This approach 'ontologizes epistemology,' seeing cultural phenomena as relational, semiotic, and material. The authors argue that the dynamism of ufology and the UFO as a theory machine stems from their capacity to create flexible understandings of space and to generate new imaginaries of where contact can occur.

Pablo's Perspective: Internal and Embodied Evidence

The article features the perspective of Pablo, a veterinarian and ufologist, who believes that in contemporary ufology, evidence is often personal rather than material or digital. He suggests that people's 'states' and a certain 'pre-disposition' in their neurons facilitate contact. Pablo describes an 'intangible matrix' that connects with the tangible-biological matrix of the neuron, suggesting that evidence is found at an 'interface' of sensitive neurons. This internal, embodied dimension, explained in neurological terms, enables possibility, creating an axis of four dimensions: possibility vs. impossibility, and material evidence vs. internal, personal evidence. This ambivalence is seen not as a middle ground but as a demonstration of the special nature of ufological evidence, where the hypothetical takes on a life of its own as an empirical construct.

The 'Absurd' in Ufology

The final section explores instances where the 'theory machine' of ufology either halts or goes into 'theoretical overdrive,' leading to paradox and the breakdown of signification. The first example involves Carlos, a nurse and ufologist, who recounts experiences of anomalous lights and a driverless car that defied rationality. He emphasizes that such phenomena escape rational framing and that the evidence witnessed does not fit conventional parameters. The article suggests that these experiences present as 'anti-structure,' where marginality is central.

The second example discusses Sergio Sánchez, an editor of a skeptical ufological newspaper, who highlights 'para-ufology' and the concept of the 'great trickster' – a superhuman consciousness that generates forms according to cultural ideals and plays with humans through riddles and absurdities. Sánchez believes that the 'absurd' has a real dimension, stemming from an 'ontological shock' – a clash between realities with different languages. The authors note that while scholars might dismiss such experiences as figments of the mind, Sánchez argues for their centrality to ufology.

Motility and Evidence

The article concludes by discussing the concept of motility in understanding evidence, particularly in relation to 'absurd' UFO phenomena. Motility, as defined by Martin Holbraad, means defying meaning for interlocutors and involves motion, transformation, and a constant flux of meaning. This applies to all aspects of UFO phenomena, including physical, material, spiritual, and paranormal experiences. The authors argue that this motility accounts for paradoxical experiences and produces its own forms of evidence, suggesting that these experiences should be taken as more than mere 'cultural constructions.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article include the multifaceted nature of evidence in ufology, the distinction between 'possible' and 'impossible' realities, the role of 'theory machines' in constructing knowledge, and the concept of 'practical ontology.' The editorial stance appears to be one of academic inquiry, exploring the subjective and theoretical frameworks employed by ufologists without necessarily endorsing or refuting the phenomena themselves. The article aims to deconstruct the methods, apparatuses, and discourses of evidence-making in Chilean ufology, highlighting its unique characteristics and challenges to conventional scientific paradigms.

This document is a scholarly article titled "The Possible and the Impossible: Reflections on Evidence in Chilean Ufology," authored by Diana Espírito Santo and Alejandra Vergara. It was published in the journal *Antipoda. Revista de Antropología y Arqueología*, issue 41, in October-December 2020. The article delves into the complex nature of evidence within the field of ufology, particularly as observed in Chile.

Core Argument: Evidence as a Theory Machine

The central thesis of the article is that "evidence" of UFOs operates through various domains with differing thresholds and definitions. The authors propose that this evidence functions as an instantiation of a larger "theory machine." This machine is set in motion by the phenomenon of UFOs itself and expresses itself within this field as "evidence-as-possibility." Following this theory produced by the UFO as a theory machine, the authors suggest that evidence is itself a manifestation of different regimes of "possibility" and "impossibility."

Regimes of Evidence

The article emphasizes two key aspects of this spectrum of evidence: the materiality and physicality of proof on the one hand, and, on the other, the internal, embodied disclosure of UFOs as the ultimate mode of evidence. It draws upon the work of Walford to argue that data can take a relational path to becoming evidence for a given community, even if it is considered "damned" by others. This implies that an initial piece of evidence might be scrutinized by experts, unvalidated, and thus oscillate between domains of possibility and impossibility.

Understanding "Absurd" Experiences

The authors explore a particular field of experience where the "theory machine" either becomes silent or goes into overdrive, leading to proliferations of abstractions and controversies. They propose using Holbraad's concept of motility as a heuristic device to understand these occurrences deemed by their interlocutors as "absurd." These "absurd" experiences, the article posits, do not speak to notions of possibility or impossibility because there is no discernible meaning or evidentiary standard that can be gauged from them. The only possible meaning derived from such experiences comes from abstraction.

Context and References

The article is situated within a broader academic discussion on ufology, anthropology, and the nature of evidence, as indicated by the extensive list of references. These references include works on "Insiders' Voices in Outerspaces," "The Objects of Evidence," "Boundaries of Anthropology," "The Construction of the Paranormal," "American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology," and "Passport to Magonia: From Folklore to Flying Saucers," among others. The references highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the research, drawing from anthropology, sociology, religious studies, and the history of science.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article revolve around the philosophical and anthropological examination of what constitutes "evidence" in the context of anomalous phenomena like UFOs. The editorial stance, as presented by the authors, is analytical and critical, seeking to understand the theoretical frameworks and ontological assumptions that shape how UFO phenomena are perceived and interpreted. The article challenges conventional notions of evidence by proposing a more fluid and context-dependent understanding, emphasizing the role of interpretation, community validation, and the inherent "possibility" or "impossibility" embedded within the phenomenon itself.