Ritual in its own right: Exploring the dynamics of transformation

Don Handelman*, Galina Lindquist

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Historically, canonic studies of ritual have discussed and explained ritual organization, action, and transformation primarily as representations of broader cultural and social orders. In the present, as in the past, less attention is given to the power of ritual to organize and effect transformation through its own dynamics. Breaking with convention, the contributors to this volume were asked to discuss ritual first and foremost in relation to itself, in its own right, and only then in relation to its socio-cultural context. The results attest to the variable capacities of rites to effect transformation through themselves, and to the study of phenomena in their own right as a fertile approach to comprehending ritual dynamics.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherBerghahn Books
Number of pages232
ISBN (Electronic)9780857458889
ISBN (Print)9781845450519
StatePublished - 15 Jan 2005

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2005 Berghahn Books. All rights reserved.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ritual in its own right: Exploring the dynamics of transformation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this