This thesis explores the phenomenon of change and transformation on the level of subjective consciousness, focussing in particular on the questions of how such change and transformation might come about, and of what it might entail for the subject’s experience of self and world. Building on work from the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience, I not only inquire into the disruptive (and transformative) potential of extreme, emotionally significant experiences, but also construct a conceptual framework for characterizing the changes and transformations that such experiences can provoke. After establishing this framework as a means of addressing the questions above, I deploy it in relation to the models of subjective transformation set forth by Georges Bataille, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and Slavoj Žižek, demonstrating how it helps to enrich these models by contributing to a more expansive understanding of their dynamics and implications on the level of subjective consciousness.

Cette thèse, qui relève de la philosophie de l'esprit, consiste en la défense d'une version de la théorie auto-représentationnelle de la conscience. En acceptant d'une part la notion d'état mental possédant un certain contenu qui peut être conscient ou inconscient, et d'autre part l'hypothèse plausible que le contenu de tout état mental consiste en une représentation, alors le problème de la manifestation de la conscience s'appliquant au contenu de CERTAINS états mentaux acquiert intelligibilité dans ce cadre. Il peut être compris comme la recherche d'une structure de représentation qui donne lieu à cette manifestation. Pour certains auteurs (Fred Dretske, Michael Tye et dautres), des conditions particulières dans la représentation directe de l'objet y suffisent, pour d'autres (en particulier David Rosenthal) il y faut une méta-représentation de l'objet sous certaines conditions. Ni l'une ni l'autre de ces structures ne s'avère cependant suffisante pour justifier la démarcation entre états mentaux conscients et inconscients, et pour caractériser la phénoménalité de la conscience. En prenant alors au sérieux l'intuition forte d'auto-référentialité de la conscience (présente déjà chez Aristote - suivant certaines interprétations -, reprise par Brentano, Sartre, et ces dernières années, par Uriah Kriegel et plusieurs autres), on est conduit à proposer, pour les états mentaux conscients, une structure d'auto-représentation (de la représentation) de l'objet qui sous-tend une intentionnalité consciente duale dirigée vers l'objet et en même temps vers elle-même. on résout ainsi les problèmes de la théorie méta-représentationnelle, mais il faut monter que ce schéma est intelligible, que le risque de régression à l'infini dans les capacités repésentationnelles de la conscience n'existe pas, et que de robustes intuitions sont ainsi éclairées, telles que la structuration du champ conscient entre premier plan et arrière-plan, et le lien entre conscience d'arrière plan, ou marginale, et conscience de soi. Ce lien dérive du fait que la conscience marginale, dans la perspective de l'auto-représentation, est la conscience de la conscience d'objet, et se qualifie aussi comme conscience subjective, c'est à dire conscience "pour moi" de l'objet. Et la conscience de soi se construit à partir des épisodes de conscience subjective. L'étude du rapport entre structures de représentation mentale consciente et configurations neuronales spatio-temporelles qui les produisent dans le cerveau est hors du domaine du présent travail, mais la présence nécessaire de ces relations demeure à l'arrière-plan, et affleure dans la réflexion quand cela peut être éclairant. / This work illustrates a version of the self-representational theory of consciousness. If one accepts on the one hand the notion of mental states that have a given content - conscious or unconscious - and on the other hand the plausible hypothesis that the content of all mental states consists in a representation, then the problem of the manifestation of consciousness for (the content of) SOME states becomes intelligible within this frame. This problem can be understood as the research of the representational structure which gives rise to this manifestation. For some authors ( Fred Dretske, Michael Tye, and others) certain particular conditions in the direct representation of the object are sufficient, for others (particularly David Rosenthal) a meta-representation is necessary, under given conditions. However neither of those structures results sufficient to justify the demarcation between conscious and unconscious states and to characterize the phenomenality of consciousness. If one then takes seriously into account the strong intuition of self-referentiality of consciousness (already present in Aristotle - following some interpretations -, taken up again by Brentano, Sartre, and lately by Uriah Kriegel and several others) one is conducted to propose a self-representational structure for conscious mental states which involves a dual conscious intentionality targeting the object and itself at the same time. The problems of the meta-representational theory are thus resolved, but it remains to be shown that this scheme is intelligible, that the risk of infinite regress of the representing capacity of consciousness does not exist, and that strong intuitions are thus acknowledged : such as the distinction in the conscious field between foreground and background, and the link between background, or marginal consciousness, and self consciousness. Within the self-representational view, this link originates from the fact that marginal consciousness is the consciousness of the consciousness of the object, and qualifies itself as subjective consciousness, that is to say, consciousness "for me" of the object. Self consciousness is then constructed from the episodes of subjective consciousness. The relationship between conscious mental representational structures and the spatio-temporal neuronal configurations which produce them in the brain, is outside the domain of the present work, but it is necessarily present in the background, and it is considered when useful for the argument.

Panapanayan 是位於台灣東南海岸的地點，至少有阿美、卑南、排灣及魯凱 等鄰近四族群的祖源傳說與該地有關，文化現象亦有許多相似之處，形成一個可 資觀察的「文化圈」區域。 該文化圈內之文化現象除了具有空間的關聯性之外，亦具有時間深度，其關 聯與互動可以延伸到史前時代，尤以文化圈內之舊香蘭遺址所發掘出土的文物， 有石刀、陶片上吐信蛇紋的應用，與現生族群間沿用之圖紋習慣似乎具有傳承關 係。文化圈內核心區域太麻里、知本部落流傳的生命儀禮中，文身（口傳及文獻 記錄）及使用琉璃珠（佩戴珠飾、陪葬）的習慣，是當地整體生命認知的價值體 系一環，與而舊香蘭遺址亦發現大量之琉璃珠，古今相疊的地緣空間中相似的文 化現象，不免引人注目。 此外，本地區(太麻里部落祖靈屋)發現的吐舌和大塊面雕刻人像，為台灣原 住民木雕圖紋表現習慣中少見的形式，卻與境外南太平洋文化的表現具有類緣的 關係，在在凸顯了本地除具有獨特的藝術表現外，又具有與分佈廣大的南島語族 間文化相連的多元關係。因此，似可以從物質文化中之藝術表現做為媒介觀察整 體社會文化變遷，與人群表達集體情感與識別作用的文化認同現象。 受國家政治現代化政策的影響，本地區百年來沐浴在現代化影響下，傳統生 活與文化產生了很大的變遷，但是在晚近族群運動與強調在地化文化資產發掘的 文化政策影響下，促進了民族風潮與部落主體意識的覺醒，太麻里、知本部落透 過重建palakuwan、恢復祭儀、傳統歌謠及工藝美感經驗的傳承等，紛紛進行文 化復振工作。各部落為尋找歷史記憶，熱絡進行祭儀交流、尋根溯源及跨部落結 盟等活動，使文化圈內人群緊密互動的現象，有促進區域生成共同體的趨勢。 太麻里、知本部落的社會環境，也在全球化和商業化、觀光化影響下變遷， 藝術表現由傳統制式的風格，漸轉化為多樣取向的個人性創作，這種轉變衝擊了 在地文化的傳承，以及部落主體性的維繫，為了凝聚族人共識，有心者於是透過 藝術媒介塑造部落文化特徵，強化為部落象徵，使藝術表現再度成為扮演彰顯族 群（部落）認同的重要功能。 本研究透過物質文化的表現，特別是所謂「藝術」（原始藝術或民族藝術） 的生成與顯現過程，觀察Panapanayan 當地多元視覺藝術要素與歷史傳統、社會 生活祭儀、象徵認同之間的關係，以瞭解藝術表現的脈絡與部落主體意識、民族 認同之間的互動關係。 / Panapanayan is located on the southeast coast of Taiwan. The ancestral origin stories of at least four ethnic groups, including the Amis, Puyuma, Paiwan and Rukai, can be traced back to this place. The many similar cultural phenomena demonstrated by these various groups suggest the formation of a culture circle. The relations between the cultural phenomena within this culture circle are not only based on space, but also on time. The relations and interactions between them can be traced back to prehistoric times. For example, snake tongue patterns seen on artifacts like stone blades and pieces of pottery uncovered at the Jiuxianglan Site are still seen in the patterns used by these ethnic groups to this day. The life-cycle rituals, tattooing (described by the oral tradition and written records) and use of ceremonial glass beads (used for both decretive purposes and buried with the deceased) found in the villages of Taimali and Zhiben, which are at the center of this culture circle, represent local values and beliefs about life and death. Many glass beads were also uncovered at the Jiuxianglan Site. The number of similar cultural phenomena occurring within this region from ancient times to present day is truly striking. In addition, the tongue-like patterns and large carvings of human figures found in this region (at the ancestral shrine in Taimali) have rarely been seen among the wood-carving patterns of Taiwan’s aboriginal people. However, these patterns are related to those found within Austronesian culture outside Taiwan. This finding further highlights the uniqueness of the artistic expressions found in this area and points to diverse ties with the widespread Austronesian peoples. As a result, the artistic expressions found within the material culture in this area can be used to trace social and cultural change. These artistic expressions can also help us to better understand collective emotions and cultural identities. With the emergence of modern national politics, the traditional life and culture of this region have been strongly influenced by the onslaught of modernization. However, the rise of the ethnic movement in Taiwan and the emphasis on cultural heritage within political policy has inspired a new awakening of tribal consciousness. By rebuilding Palakuwan and restoring traditional rituals, songs and artistic aesthetics, the people in Taimali and Zhiben have begun to engage in the process of cultural restoration. To rediscover their historical memory, various villages have worked together by exchanging rituals, tracing their roots and creating alliances. The close interactions between people living within the culture circle have led to the formation of community within this region. The social environment in Taimali and Zhiben has also been influenced by globalization, commercialization and tourism. Artistic expression has graduallyshifted from a structured traditional style to more diverse forms of individualized production. This transformation has greatly affected the transmission of local culture, as well as the maintenance of tribal subjectivity. In order to promote consensus among tribal members, concerned individuals have used the media to shape cultural characteristics and strengthen tribal symbols. As a result, artistic expression once again is playing an important role in shaping ethnic (tribal) identity. By exploring material culture, in particular the process of producing and displaying “art” (primitive art or ethnic art), this study investigates the relations between the diverse artistic elements, historical tradition, social rituals and symbolic identity in Panapanayan. The purpose of this study is to further understand the interaction between artistic expression, tribal subjective consciousness and ethnic identity.