WSTD 082 - Ritual in American Life

Institution:

University of Pennsylvania

Subject:

Description:

Distribution Course in Arts & Letters. Class of 2009 & prior only. Paxton. Freshman Seminar. Starting with birth and working chronologically through a series of case studies, this course invites students to examine the centrality of rituals that celebrate the human lifecycle as well as overtly competitve sporting and political rituals. We will explore rituals that unfold at the local level as well as those that most Americans experience only via the media. Rituals under examination include birthday parties, Bat Mitzvahs, Halloween, Quinceaneras, Proms, graduations, rodeos, Homecomings, weddings, Greek initiations, beauty pageants, reunions, and funerals. Students will be encouraged to critically examine their own ritual beliefs and practices and to consider these and other theoretical questions: What is the status of ritual in post-industrial culture What distinguishes popular culture from official ritual and secular from religious ritual How do sociological variables such as race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion shape people's understanding of, and participation in, modern famliy life How do contemporary rituals bond Americans at the local and/or national level All students will be expected to conduct original research on a ritual of their own.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.upenn.edu

Phone Number:

(215) 898-5000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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