Ritual as metaphor

Della Costa, Francesco (2023): Ritual as metaphor. In: Anthropological Theory, Vol. 23, No. 1: pp. 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.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: History and Art History > Department of History > Jewish History and Culture
• Subjects: 900 History and geography > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 1463-4996
• Language: English