10.29.2014

Voices = crazy or autism


                We recently discussed whether or not Joan’s voices may have come from being crazy.  But I wonder if it could have come from autism.  Her military leadership that was really successful and guided by voices sounds like a successful person with autism.  Temple Grandin is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado University and is diagnosed with autism.  It is widely believed that because of this she was able to become such a large success in the livestock industry.

                Temple Grandin, through her autism which made her light and sound sensitive, could see things from the livestock’s perspective and then construct and engineer new coral and alleyways to reduce animal anxiety.  Much to the astonishment of farmers and ranchers, Grandin’s design greatly reduced the stress in animals.  Grandin did not say that voices told her to do this but instead credits it to her autism.  Perhaps Joan was autistic and could see strategic ways to approach the enemy. 

                Grandin has achieved many honors for her contributions to the field of agriculture and autism awareness.  Joan received command of an army for her ability to show the king what he wanted/needed to see to let Joan lead his army.  Joan was often strict and perhaps she was a virgin because she did not really understand the relationship paradigm, she ended an arranged marriage.  Grandin has never married and does not have children saying "the part of other people that has emotional relationships is not part of me" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin). 

                These two both contributed highly to their causes.  One to military achievements of her country, the other to the field of agriculture and autism awareness. 



TempleGrandin.jpg
Temple Grandin                                                                                   Joan of Arc leading her men.

2 comments:

  1. Evan-

    Very interesting post! It is indeed noteworthy to see some the similarities between Joan and Temple Grandin. Your discussion of Joan's chosen virginity and Grandin's choice not to marry begs interesting questions for my personal research on Joan's virginity and virginity in the Middle Ages as a whole. Did Joan simply not see herself as desiring an emotional relationship (like Grandin), or was there something deeper to her choice? Hopefully my research can shed some light on this at the end of the semester!

    -Rachel

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  2. Does Joan have an emotional relationship? It seems like she definitely has one with God, which is the hallmark of mysticism. Virginity means celibacy, but it might even have an element of marriage . . . like marriage to the Godhead. In one interesting study of modern nuns, they wrote very intimate language of God, without me being more explicit on this blog! Evan you have us thinking! What is the evidence though for Joan's autism--is being successful in war enough evidence to presume? I love the links with contemporaries though.

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