ANTH 209 Chapter Notes -Neurosis, Participant Observation, Bronisław Malinowski
5 Jun 2012
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Document Summary
One of the founders of the functionalist school of anthropology. F: the interrelations between the various elements of a social system. Religion is a projection of a society"s values. The translation of words does not always project the actual meaning of the words. Introduction to ritual theory, rites of passage, and ritual violence. Role in healing, maintaining culture, expressing emotions, restoring balance, etc. A performance that effects a transition from everyday life to an alternative context. Religious ritual: a prescribed formal behaviour for occasions not given over to technical routine, having reference to a higher being. Or: opening ordinary life to ultimate reality or some transcendent being or force in order to tap its transformative power. Problem: cross-cultural comparisons with western ideas that don"t always fit other cultures. If the performance is to be efficacious, then ritual. Problem: lost of rituals have lost their spiritual meaning (e. g. christmas)
