Product Description
From handshakes and toasts to chant and genuflection, ritual pervades our social interactions and religious practices. Still, few of us could identify all of our daily and festal ritual behaviors, much less explain them to an outsider. Similarly, because of the variety of activities that qualify as ritual and their many contradictory yet, in many ways, equally legitimate interpretations, ritual seems to elude any systematic historical and comparative scrutiny. In this book, Catherine Bell offers a practical introduction to ritual practice and its study; she surveys the most influential theories of religion and ritual, the major categories of ritual activity, and the key debates that have shaped our understanding of ritualism. Bell refuses to nail down ritual with any one definition or understanding. Instead, her purpose is to reveal how definitions emerge and evolve and to help us become more familiar with the interplay of tradition, exigency, and self- expression that goes into constructing this complex social medium. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

It is a wonderful book. It came the way it was described.
The purpose of my purchasing the book in the first instance was to use it to prepare my Statement of Purpose for my PhD application. Apart from the fact that the book served this purpose, it also came the way the seller described the product. I think I am very satisfied with the book.
Thanks .
Enoch

Plumbs the depths and spans the breadth of a complex topic
Catherine Bell is certainly one of the preeminent scholars of ritual studies.This book is a fantastic demonstration of why that is the case.It's a tour de force of scholarship and quite a tour of the vast territory covered by the term "ritual" as well.Ritual is one of those words (like "religion" itself) that we all think we can define easily until we're actually asked to do it.Bell gets around the problem of slippery and ethnocentric definitions of ritual by encompassing a wide range of activities she calls "ritualization."This strategic shift from noun to verb brings ritual out of the dusty display cabinet of pinned-down "things" and into the dynamic and contested realm of ongoing human activity.She sees the doing of "ritual" and "ritual-like" activities as well as the interpretation of those activities as acts of ritualization.A bit post-modern?Yes.If this discursive approach to understanding human behavior turns you off, then this isn't the book for you.If you're looking for a sweeping introduction to the field of ritual studies from a scholar at the top of her game who has an impressive command of work in that field and in many related ones besides, then this is a tasty treat indeed.

A great book
I beg to disagree with the other reviewer. I am a complete newcomer to ritual studies and this book is every novice's dream. Both detailed and wide-ranging, it gives sufficient exposure to the key questions to start using ritual in your own work, or to simply appreciate the pervasiveness of ritual in social life.

The book is divided into three parts: Part one summarizes various theories of ritual from the mid 19th century to the present while discussing key aspects of ritual. Frazer, Durkheim, Levi-Strauss, Van Gennep, Douglas, Turner are some of the many key figures presented. Part two examines types of ritual, while Part three explores "the broader relationships between ritual activities and social life." A wealth of examples and brief case studies complete this extraordinary volume.

The coverage and precision of this book are outstanding but I was most impressed by the objectivity and fairness with which Bell presents thinkers and positions now dated. If you are looking for a single volume introduction to ritual look no further.

Great but not for the first timer in this field...
While Bell provides what is a strong comprehensive look at ritual, this book is not for anyone who is trying to break into this. It is not nightstand reading! As an upper-level undergrad in religious studies, I found the book readable, challenging, and thoroughly engaging. However, there are some important principles that should be understood first--particularly sociological and psychological theories in religion. I would recommend that the thoughtful reader with some exposure to the study of religion and world religions accompany this text with Ronald Grimes' anthology _Readings in Ritual Studies._ In it you will find some of the foundational ideas as well as many of the scholars who inform Bell's study of ritual. ... Read more

Product Description
Ritual studies today figures as a central element of religious discourse for many scholars around the world.Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice, Catherine Bell's sweeping and seminal work on the subject, helped legitimize the field.In this volume, Bell re-examines the issues, methods, and ramifications of our interest in ritual by concentrating on anthropology, sociology, and the history of religions.Now with a new foreword by Diane Jonte-Pace, Bell's work is a must-read for understanding the evolution of the field of ritual studies and its current state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Don't let the ideas get in the way of good writing
A very smart woman; a poorly executed book. This book is intended for nobody to read. Bell's inexcusable writing style can only be described as pretentious. She challened no ideas, fronts or philosophies on her own. I also read all 223 pages, and I agree with another reviewer that there are so many references she fails in creating a position for herself. Many references she cites have the same positions, so why read something that is poorly written.

I love this book!
Of the many books I've read in my (admittedly limited) anthropological career, none have had as profound an effect on my understanding of what ideology is or of its relevance to social structure.The book is ostensibly about ritual (or "ritualization," as Bell comes to call it), but I think its relevance extends to ideological discourse or semiosis in general.Most of what Bell has to say about how symbols and ideological themes are exploited by participants in the course of ritualized activities can be extended to semiosic commerce in general.Similarly, the subtle political negotiation which is said to be accomplished through the ritualized manipulation of symbols probably underlies virtually all ideological commerce.

What I love most about Bell's book is its explicit critique of the Gramscian Marxist concept of ideology's relationship to power.Bell offers the rather straight-forward argument, "if your juridical or military apparatus is powerful enough to coerce a subjected group without fear of subversion or recourse, what need have you to whitewash your hegemony with ideology?"Bell makes the Foucaldian argument that ideological discourse does not disguise what needs no disguise, but rather what does;we encounter ideological interaction not when one group's domination of another is impregnable, but rather in cases where neither group can clearly dominate the other without considerable cost or risk, giving way to negotiation and compromise between competing free agents.Ideological discourse shows up in such scenarios because it is through the manipulation of symbols that compromises are rendered tolerable by lending them an aura of cosmic rightness, thereby redeeming the participants' negotiated lots in life and society.

Bell's argument flies in the face of traditional structural-functionalism, which reads the individual and individual agency out of the sociological equation.For structural-functionalists, ideologies act upon individuals by instilling in them a homogeneous set of values and motivations; individuals are passive and plastic while ideology is active and firm.Bell's reckoning reverses this picture: individuals manipulate ideology in the discursive process, acting on behalf of their own self-interests; ideology becomes the effect of human activity rather than its cause (Umberto Eco and Marvin Harris have made similar arguments in their own works).Thus, social cohesion is achieved not because humans are fundamentally social creatures (as the social-functionalists contend), but either because one group coerces another by virtue of force, or else because approximately equally matched individuals realize that there is more to gain from cooperation (with minimal loss through compromise) than from resistant hostility (with excessive loss through costly open-ended conflict).

If I have any major criticism of Bell's book, it is this: she presents ritualization as an intuitive, instinctive enterprise, undertaken only in those scenarios when it is the strategically most effective option (in other words, when competing agents are too equally matched to effectively dominate one another).Yet, human decision-making is regularly inhibited by poor or incomplete information, the neurological limits of information-processing, hastiness, and faulty or dogmatic opportunity-cost associations.(Neoclassical economic thought has suffered similar criticisms over the past few decades.)So Bell's contention contra Geertz that there is no such thing as a failed ritual seems ill-conceived.On the contrary, an inequitably well-endowed agent may submit to compromise because he or she fails to appreciate the possibility of a one-sided dominion, while another may overestimate his or her means and thus attempt to engage in coercive hostilities to ill effect.Throughout her book, Bell frequently uses the term "strategy" to characterize ritualization, yet she neglects the long, unfortunate history of failed military and economic strategies (cf. Barbara Tuchman's "The March of Folly" and "The Guns of August" on the history of failed military strategy).Why, then, should the political strategy which Bell has labeled "ritualization" be immune from similar catastrophe?While I do not agree with Ronald Grimes at every point, I think he is more on the mark than is Bell for conceeding the possibility of "ritual infelicity."

Groundbreaking, but no sort of introduction
First of all, a little word of warning:

As seems to be generally agreed, Bell's writing style is more than a little dense, and while she in some sense introduces ritual theory, she really assumes you already know a great deal about it.Consequently, the book is simply not approachable unless you have already read most of the works to which she refers.If you've been assigned this for an undergrad class, or a beginning grad class, you have been cheated.Professors, please, don't assign this until people have already read Smith, Levi-Strauss, Durkheim, Frazer, Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, Evans-Pritchard, Geertz, Ortner, Bourdieu, de Certeau, Turner, Grimes, and probably Derrida for good measure.This is a wonderful book if you know all that stuff; it's truly painful if you don't.

I first read this when I started grad school, and I hated it.Couldn't see the point, frankly.Bell's criticisms of various theories seemed worthwhile, but as she doesn't really propose a new method in the end, what's the point?So I dropped it happily for a long time.

Then I came back to it, almost ten years later, because I found myself delving very deeply into ritual theory, its history, and its future.Suddenly I saw what Bell is up to, and realized that this thing stands as one of the single most important contributions to the field.

Now how can both be true?Well, here's the short, grossly-simplified version.

First, Bell argues that pretty much all current ritual theory tends to cleave along a fault-line: thought/action is the usual form.That is, people DO ritual, and THINK something else.She then turns to a deconstructive approach, and demonstrates that this is logically nonfunctional.She's right, by the way.Whatever you think of the rest of the book, this argument (about the first quarter of the book) leaves smoking rubble where the vast majority of ritual theory used to be.

Next, she picks up the notion of "practice," as formulated by Sherry Ortner, Michel de Certeau, and Pierre Bourdieu, and argues that ritual is a mode of practice, and thus continuous with other modes of behavior within everyday life.

BUT, you see, one of the oddities of ritual is precisely that it usually is understood by the people doing it as NOT continuous.This, she argues, is one of the defining factors of ritual as a specific mode of practice: the practice of "ritualization" largely depends on the construction of a division between ritual and other behaviors, within the culture in question.

Armed with that as a structure, she goes and proposes a new way of looking at ritualization, rather than ritual; that is, she wants to look at the way people ritualize rather than the product of their constructive process.

Personally, I suspect that this shift to ritualization drags us right back into action rather than thought, precisely the thing she wanted to get out of, but the way she does this is very, very slick.

Now here's the $64,000 question.Did you understand, or care about, almost any of what I just wrote?If yes to both, you're going to love this book (or hate it, but enjoy the process).If no to either or both, don't read this.

Once again, would people stop assigning this book to those not prepared to address it intelligently?It's simply not fair, and you should be using the time on something more useful and approachable.

dense but good
It seems that people either love this book or hate it.I personally fall into the former category, but I understand the frustrations exhibited by some of the other "reviewers" here.She delves deeply into pre-existing theories on ritual, from early social scientists like Durkheim and Mauss as well as newer, trendier people like Bourdieu, Foucault, and Derrida.It appears that she, along with most academics in the social sciences, is in love with the French (but she does bring in some Goffman and Geertz).

I read most of the book a few years ago when I was in the field and was somewhat lost at times.Coming back to it a few years later with lots of theory under my belt, I was able to cut through her (sometimes exceedingly) obscure and obscuring writing style to get at the tasty nuggets inside.

She reviews earlier ideas of ritual then proposes her own ideas, which intentionally fall short of an overt methodology (God forbid a postmodern scholar actually prescribe a methodology!).

It's good stuff, but not for the faint-of-heart or those who haven't been previously exposed to postmodern philosophy and at least a bit of ethnography.

NOT READABLE
Without a doubt, this book is for nobody to read.I plowed my way through all 223 pages, and I cannot describe how restless I became with Catherine Bell's nonsense.There are so many references that Bell is no longer backing her arguments, but is instead indicating that she has no ability for original thought.I know that Bell is educated, but this book is proof that she is unable to communicate her ideas clearly and simply.DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
There is a great deal of interest in bringing a better appreciation of ritual into religious studies classes, but many teachers are uncertain how to go about doing this. Religious studies faculty know how to teach texts, but they are often unprepared to teach something for which the meaning lies in the doing. How much doing should a class do? How does the teacher talk about religious concepts that exist in practical relationships, not textual descriptions? These practical issues also give rise to theoretical questions. Giving more attention to ritual effectively suggests a reinterpretation of religion itselfless focused on what people have thought and written, and more focused on how they order their universe. Much of the useful analysis of ritual derives from anthropological and sociological premises, which are often foreign to religious studies faculty and are seen by some as theologically problematic. This is the first resource to address the issues specific to teaching this subject. A stellar cast of contributors, who teach ritual in a wide variety of courses and settings, explain what has worked for them in the classroom, what hasn't, and what they've learned from experience. Their voices range from personal to formal, and their topics from Japanese theatre to using field trips. The result is a thoughtful guide for teachers who are new to the subject as well as experienced ones looking for fresh angles and approaches. ... Read more

Product Description
Regency Romance ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Kitten-riffic!
This book was excellent!I especially enjoyed the Catherine Blair story, with its combination of romance, subterfuge, Egyptian historical references, and kittens.Blaire's understanding of Regency social nuance combines with her outstanding writing style to produce an extremely entertaining read.The other two stories are also entertaining, but "The Black Kitten" was my favorite.

Sweet, quick tales about love and cats.
"The Reluctant Warlock" by Donna Bell.Shy Gertrude Gillinghamrescues a black kitten from Sir Felix Baring by breaking an umbrella overhis head.The kitten belongs to Felix's aunt, a woman who is convincedFelix is a warlock, she is a witch, and the cat is the reincarnation ofFelix's late father.Too short a story, there is barely time for Gilly andFelix to fall in love.The cat's role was too small, a complaint I hadabout the remaining two stories.

"The Black Kitten" byCatherine Blair.Lord Jonathan Griffith was so eager to get his hands onthe Harrington Egyptian collection that he was willing to woo LornaHarrington, the daughter.She was testy, thought of as a witch, and hadturned down 14 previous suitors.Griffith had even bet a friend onehundred pounds that Lorna would be engaged by All Hallows' Eve.He neverexpected to be attracted to her or to learn how lonely Lorna was, livingwith only her cats for companions when her selfish father travelled theworld.Lorna and Jonathan are two lonely people who need each other.Thecats' roles are small, but essential.

"A Cat by Any Other Name"by Joy Reed.Miranda Strong knew she was destined to be a spinster, but tobe given the spinster's usual companion, a kitten, was mortifying.Thenight Tom the cat ran off, Miranda met another Tom, Lord Thomas Longworth. Miranda can't believe Longworth could possibly be interested in her.PoorMiranda, afraid of being alone, but equally afraid to grab the happinesswithin reach. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London : F. Warne; New York, Scribner, Welford, ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more