358 Ritual assignment

ANT 35801 Social Anthropology Dr. Dorothy D. Wills
Cal Poly Pomona Winter, 2005

Exercise #2: Ritual Participant Observation

Find a ritual occasion to attend, one with which you are unfamiliar. Possibilities include:

- religious ceremonies, such as church, synagogue, mosque, temple, etc., services, worship or other ritual activities
- rites of passage, such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, quinceneras, christenings, etc.
- secular rituals, such as graduations, inaugurations, opening ceremonies, awards presentations, etc.
- festivals, holiday or special day rituals (if you don't know anything about Halloween, this would be an opportunity to learn)
- organizational activities that are ritualized, such as fraternity/sorority, Lions' Club, City Council, etc.

The ritual can be on- or off-campus. Though family dinners are often highly ritualized, please don't do this. If you are not sure you have a good topic, contact me.

If you want to go to something, but are not really welcome, don't do it. Participate as much as seems appropriate to you. Ask questions, interact with people, take pictures if you want and if it's okay.

Then, write up a 2-3 page report of everything you saw, heard, ate, learned, etc. Describe the sequence of events, appearance of things, any formulaic speech, symbolism, use of objects, routines that people do, timing and location of event.

DUE: Mar. 3