RLGB10 Study Guide - Syncretism, Arnold Van Gennep, Michel Foucault
Document Summary
James clifford discusses the theory about cultural hybridity as well as religious syncretism; he claims that culture has a fluid hybridity because it is about mixing up different elements and defining a particular way of life. Much of this hybridity is expressed through cultural products like book, art, music etc. Syncretism is the fusion of religious beliefs and practices; we can see that there is a fusion between culture and religion all around the world. An example of culture being fused with religion is by looking at the christian religion, many cultures have adopted christianity and there are distinct differences in the ways each culture practices the religion. Japanese, african and american christians, each culture practices christianity differently than one another. The problem that arises when we discuss syncretism is the fact that people over generalized things, in class we looked at pictures of christianity being practiced in different cultures.
