State, power, and violence

More about the book

Held in Heidelberg from September 29 to October 2, 2008, the international conference “Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual,” organized by the collaborative research center SFB 619 “Ritual Dynamics,” gathered leading experts in ritual studies and over 600 participants to reassess traditional subjects in light of recent research. The findings, presented in five volumes, pave the way for future transcultural, interdisciplinary, and multi-methodical research on rituals. The conference showcased a wide array of disciplines and methods, covering diverse topics across cultural geographies and spanning from antiquity to the present. The proceedings illustrate the broad definition of rituals and explore their conditions, modes, and functions in various cultures. A key conclusion is that no single model for rituals exists; instead, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research methods are essential. The volumes include: Volume I: Grammars and Morphologies of Ritual Practices in Asia; Volume II: Body, Performance, Agency and Experience; Volume III: State, Power and Violence; Volume IV: Reflexivity, Media and Visuality; Volume V: Transfer and Spaces. A set price for all five volumes is offered (978-3-447-06206-0).