Ritual Theory * 2006
T, F 2:00-3:20 Dr. Susan Marks
PMC 219 smarks@ncf.edu
Office Hours: Mon 2:30-3:30p.m. PME 221; x 24271
Thurs 11:00a.m.- Noon http://faculty.ncf.edu/marks/
This course looks at models of ritual, surveying a variety of contexts, functions and assumptions. An exploration of what “ritual” communicates will coincide with consideration of our own skills at communicating by means of the spoken and written word. Throughout the semester as we encounter new models of ritual and interpret them in relation to the ideas we have already considered, we will observe how different theories insinuate different judgments. Final projects will scrutinize the application of a model of the student’s own choosing.
Expectations:
Although there are no prerequisites for this course, the reading and writing load is heavy and the expectations I have of your performance will be high. Regular attendance is required. In order to facilitate review by both your peers and myself, assignments must be handed in on time. Class participation counts towards your overall evaluation. Your classmates will come to depend on your comments even as you will come to depend on theirs. If you are a person who does not readily talk in public, I encourage you to come see me during my office hours, and we can devise other ways for you to have input into class discussions.
Responsibilities:
1. Academic integrity.
2. Active participation. Since participation depends on regular attendance, three absences will achieve an official warning, and more than three absences will be grounds for an unsatisfactory evaluation. Students should arrive on time, with readings in hand, having done relevant readings before class session as well as any informal writing assignments.
3. Two papers, each involving drafts and revisions (a 3-4 page paper and a final 9-12 page paper).*
4. A mid-semester exam.
5. Explorations through informal writing assignments of 15-30 minutes in length.
*An appropriately formatted hard [paper] copy of formal assignments must be handed in on-time, together with all drafts and doodles. You will be evaluated based on the energy of the original exploration as well as the development in the revision process.
Writing and Class Atmosphere:
This course operates on the principle that writing and critical thinking go hand in hand. Our goal is to turn our classroom into a community of writers and a think-tank. Each of you will learn to rely on the reflections of your peers as you use writing to gain deeper insights into your own ideas. You have the right to expect honesty and respect from your peers and from me, even as we will expect the same from you. The only stupid question is the one that you didn’t ask.
Required Texts:
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. Second edition. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2003.
Grimes, Ronald L. Readings in Ritual Studies. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,
1996
and electronic reserve which includes additional articles by: Goldberg, Geertz, Lamott, Bourdieu, Austin, Ortner, Bell, Grimes, and Jay. [* = Readings found on reserve]
Please also check Library Reserve for related books.
Read: *Goldberg, Wild Mind, 1-11 and 31-8
Introduction to RIRS, xiii-xvi
Geertz, RIRS, 217-229
Write: A 20 minute freewrite, “I remember a ritual involving . . .”
Tues Feb 7 More Geertz
Read: *Geertz, “Religion as a Cultural System,” 87-125
Booth, ch 3 “From Topics to Questions”
First written assignment handed out
Fri Feb 10 J. Z. Smith
Read: J. Z. Smith, 473-83
Booth, ch 4 “From Questions to Problems”
Tues Feb 14 Overview of Symbolic Action
Read: *Lamott, “Someone to Read Your Draft,” 162-171
Due: Written assignment concerning Geertz or JZSmith
[Two copies of paper due]
[Exchange papers with peers]
Fri Feb 17 Peer Review
Read: Two papers from peers
Due: PRF for each paper
SECTION 2: Ritual and Society
Tues Feb 21 van Gennep
Read: van Gennep, 529-36
Booth, ch 7 “Making Good Arguments,”
ch 8 “Claims” and
ch 9 “Reasons and Evidence”
Fri Feb 24 Turner and Meyerhoff
Read: Turner, 511-9
Meyerhoff, 393-412
Booth, ch 10 “Acknowledgments and Responses” and
ch 11 “warrants”
Tues Feb 28 Douglas
Read: Douglas, 159-70
Due: Revision of written assignment
Fri Mar 3 Challenges
Read: Bynam, 71-86
Crapanzano, 118-131
Tues Mar 7 More challenges
Read: *Bourdieu, "Rites as Acts of Institution," 79-89
Write: Draft of dialogue between Turner and Bynam, Crapanzano or
Bourdieu [30 minutes]
Fri Mar 10 Class Cancelled so that you can take advantage of the:
New College Conference on Medieval and Renaissance Studies
http://faculty.ncf.edu/MedievalStudies/program06.html
See Section 16 (Thurs) concerning Ritual or session of your choice
SECTION 3: Ritual Performance
Tue Mar 14 Austin and Tambiah
Read: Austin, How to do Things with Words, 1-24
Tambiah, 495-511
Booth, ch 12 “Planning and Drafting”
Fri Mar 17 Exam
BREAK
Tue Mar 27 Grimes and Rappaport
Read: Grimes, 279-93
Rappaport, 427-440
Handout assignment concerning application of a model
Fri, Mar 31 Research Tools -- presentation by Librarian Caroline Reed -- PMA 117
Tues Apr 4 “Reading” the Haggaddah
Read: Background on Passover
Booth, ch 5 “From Problems to Sources”
Fri Apr 7 Ritualizing Passover
Read: *Bokser, “Ritualizing the Seder,” 443-471
Tues Apr 11 Bell
Read: Bell, 21-33
Fri Apr 14 No Class for first days of Passover
Tues Apr 18 Bourdieu and Ortner
Read: *Bourdieu, Outline of a Theory of Practice, 72-95
*Ortner, High Religion, 3-18, 193-202
Fri Apr 21 More Bell
Read: *Bell, Ritual Theory Ritual Practice, 69-101
Booth, ch 13 “Revising Your Organization and Argument”
Tues Apr 25 More Grimes
Read: *Grimes, Ritual Criticism, 109-144
Due: Written assignment,7-10 page application of a model
[Two copies of paper due]
[Exchange papers with peers]
Fri Apr 29 Peer Review
Read: Two papers from peers
Due: PRF for each paper
Tues May 2 Jay
Read: *Jay, Throughout your Generations, 128-146
Booth, ch 15 “Introductions and Conclusions”
Fri May 5 Still more Grimes
Read: *Grimes, Deeply in the Bone, 2-13 and 286-332
Tues May 9 Share interpretation finds
Come prepared to discuss your own paper and those of your peers
Fri May 12 What is Ritual Theory?
Bring: RIRS
Final Papers due Tuesday, May 16th by 5pm