Ritual Theory * 2008
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 assumptions, contexts, and functions. Throughout the semester we will explore new frameworks for thinking about ritual, considering their strengths and their weaknesses. Each new approach will allow us to ask what ritual “communicates” and how. In addition, we will observe how different theories insinuate different judgments. Final projects will give students the opportunity to scrutinize the application of one model to a particular ritualized occasion. We will conclude by sharing insights gained through these more extensive explorations.
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. 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:
Grimes, Ronald L. Readings in Ritual Studies. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,
1996
and electronic reserve which includes additional articles by: Geertz, Lamott, Bourdieu, Austin, Ortner, Bell, Grimes, and others. [* = Readings found on reserve]
Please also check Library Reserve for related books.
Read: Introduction to RIRS, xiii-xvi
Geertz, RIRS, 217-229
Write: A 20 minute freewrite, “I remember a ritual involving . . .”
Tues Feb 12 More Geertz
Read: * Geertz, “Religion as a Cultural System,” 87-125
First written assignment handed out
Fri Feb 15 J. Z. Smith
Read: J. Z. Smith, 473-83
*J.Z. Smith, To Take Place, 74-95
Tues Feb 19 Healing
Read: *Sered and Barnes, 195-208
Fri Feb 22 Class Cancelled
Tues Feb 26 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 29 Peer Review
Read: Two papers from peers
Due: PRF for each paper
SECTION 2: Ritual and Society
Tues Mar 4 van Gennep, Turner and Meyerhoff
Read: van Gennep, 529-36 AND
Turner, 511-9
Meyerhoff, 393-412
Fri Mar 7 Douglas
Read: Douglas, 159-70
Due: Revision of written assignment
Tues Mar 11 Myerhoff: Number our days [videorecording]
Fri Mar 14 Challenges
Read: Bynam, 71-86
Crapanzano, 118-131
Tue Mar 18 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 21 Dialogue Presentations * PURIM
BREAK
Tues Apr 1 Research Tools -- presentation by Librarian Caroline Reed
Fri Apr 4 More Douglas (with Teagan Keating and Sami Francis)
Read: *Douglas, tba
Tue Apr 8 Austin and Tambiah
Read: *Austin, How to do Things with Words, 1-24
Tambiah, 495-511
Fri Apr 11 Grimes and Rappaport
Read: Grimes, 279-93
Rappaport, 427-440
Tues Apr 15 Bell
Read: Bell, 21-33
Fri Apr 18 More Bell
Read: * Bell, Ritual Theory Ritual Practice, 69-101
Tues Apr 22 No Class * Baccalaureate Reading Day
Fri Apr 25 Working with Grimes and Bell (with Mikhail Petersen)
Read: * Grimes, Ritual Criticism, 109-127, 128-144
Tues Apr 29 Still more Grimes
Read: * Grimes, Deeply in the Bone, 2-13 and 286-299, 300-323, 324-332
Due: Written assignment,7-10 page application of a model
[Two copies of paper due]
[Exchange papers with peers]
Fri May 2 Peer Review
Read: Two papers from peers
Due: PRF for each paper
Tues May 6 Bourdieu and Ortner
Read: * Bourdieu, Outline of a Theory of Practice, 72-85, 86-95
* Ortner, High Religion, 3-18, 193-202
Fri May 9 Share interpretation finds
Due: Final Paper [including all drafts & forms]
Tues May 13 Conclude: What is Ritual Theory?