EMOTIONS IN RITUALS AND PERFORMANCES

Challenging the idea that rituals are static and emotions irrational the volume explores the manifold qualities of emotions in ritual practices. Focusing explicitly on the relationship between emotions and rituals it poses two central questions. First how and to what extent do emotions shape rituals? Second in what way are emotions ritualized in and beyond rituals? Strong emotions are generally considered to be more spontaneous and uncontrolled whereas ritual behaviour is regarded as planned formalized and stereotyped and hence less emotional. However as the volume demonstrates rituals often reveal strong emotions among participants are motivated by feelings or are intended to generate them. The essays discuss the motivation for rituals; the healing function of emotions; the creation of new emotions through new media; the aspect of mimesis in the generation of feelings; individual collective and non-human emotions; the importance of trance and possession; staged emotions and emotions on stage; emotions in the context of martyrdom; emotions in Indian and Western dance traditions; emotions of love sorrow fear aggression and devotion. Furthermore aesthetic and sensory dimensions as well as emic concepts of emotions in rituals are underscored as relevant in understanding social practice.