Ritual as metaphor

Della Costa, Francesco (2023): Ritual as metaphor. In: Anthropological Theory, Bd. 23, Nr. 1: S. 3-32

Abstract

The effectiveness of ritual is a major anthropological question. In this paper, I challenge some of the explanations anthropologists have provided to such a question and I attempt to formulate an original theorization of ritual as metaphor. The proposed hypothesis is grounded in two inspiring concepts: Ernesto De Martino's idea of “dehistorification” as the main technique of the ritual and Bruce Kapferer's “virtuality” as its proper dynamic dimension. Drawing on these theoretical foundations and a direct ethnographic experience and conceiving of ritual as a practice rather than as a symbol, I propose to regard it as a particular practice of metaphorization that is not representative of reality but effective on it.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Geschichts- und Kunstwissenschaften > Historisches Seminar > Jüdische Geschichte und Kultur
• Themengebiete: 900 Geschichte und Geografie > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 1463-4996
• Sprache: Englisch