Ritual

4-None

“Ritual” has a strong method and theory component and situated in a comparative frame of diverse case studies. Due to ritual’s broad relevance across traditions, this course is accessible to and instructive for all graduate students in our program. Focusing on ritual and theories thereof enables students to grapple in historically- and culturally-situated ways with important questions about the nature of religious life and sociality generally. Considers several recent ethnographic examples to illustrate many of the conceptual issues opened up by the category. Covers a range of classical and contemporary theories of ritual. The class culminates in research papers and presentations by students.