I just want to clarify. I think Michael Bleasdale is correct -- we do not
want to do away with formal rites/rituals/ceremonies in favor of
"free-form" ceremony. But as someone who studies the sociology of
religion, I would argue that rites/rituals/ceremonies are, in part,
intended to model right behavior. These events are intended to symbolize
how we think the world (in its broadest sense) "ought" to be. This
precisely why, for some religious traditions, women are excluded from key
roles. The same thing could be said of architectural design and so forth
-- certain types of persons are expected/desired and not others. I'm not
sure that "normative" necessarily means or implies sinister. Only that
certain criteria are expected or at least hoped for. Let me add as well,
my point in bringing in religious rites/rituals was simply to say that I
think the same theory can perhaps be applied to both religious and
non-religious rites -- i.e. inaugurations, award ceremonies, graduations,
etc.
All the best,
Eric
At 07:53 AM 3/30/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>Dear Discussion Group,
>
>Eric Pridmore wrote about the tendency in formal ceremonies, religious and
>otherwise, to demand precision movements and timing of certain stock
>phrases. He wrote:
>
>> Maybe I'm off base here, but I wonder if these kind of formal events
>don't become places where we try to "model" normative behavior or at least
>model some ideal notion of normative behavior.
>
>I wonder if it is rather seeking "conformity", rather than an out-an-out
>"normalisation". The difference between normative behaviour, and behaviour
>that conforms is, I believe qualitatively different, with the latter
>denoting allegiance to some societal beliefs that help to unite, and the
>former referring to a sinister process of moulding individuals to the will
>of some powerful group.
>
>My guess is that, like most aspects of societal life, the points of view of
>people with disabilities did not enter into the considerations of those who
>devised such rituals, and "tradition" has taken over. It would be better,
>in my view, to re-devise the rituals to accommodate difference (gender,
>race, disability etc.) than to just plump for the "free-form" ceremony.
>
>Michael Bleasdale
>
>
____________________________________________________
J. Eric Pridmore
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