|
|
Re: mutilation and ritualmike shupp (ms44278@HUEY.CSUN.EDU)Mon, 1 Jul 1996 22:15:43 -0700
> Judaic circumcision, or the bris ceremony is highly ceremonial. In fact, one > aspect of the ritual had to be outlawed because it was causing a tuberculosis > epidemic (mohels with TB were infecting babies when they placed their mouths > over the wound) - there was much outcry about this part of ritual being > eliminated. Female circumcision (or fgm) is highly ritualized as are most > circumcision ceremonies which are performed as a puberty rite of passage. > Money and gifts, food, clothing, dancing, singing, seclusion, parades, > drinking, etc. all accompany the event. Today, as fgm falls under closer > scrutiny and the age of the operation declines, I would assume there is much > less ceremony and more cultural retention for cultural retention's sake. > However, last year's Dateline segment on fgm clearly showed the ceremonial > aspect of one type of fgm. What I was mumbling about though was whether circumcision or fgm were as bound up in ritual in say 1000 BCE as they were at present. I was speculating that some cultural traits-- tattooing, say-- might accumulate ritual embellishment with time. > I would ask the question, is it piercing (which is a uniquely Western > practice) that lacks ceremony, symbolism and ritual, or is it Western > practices which lack ceremony, symbolism and ritual or is it that we as > Westerners cannot see the ceremony, symbolism and ritual in what we do? > Remember, Westerners tattoo - and we are not alone, as many cultures tattoo > the body. However, we are (as far as I know) the only culture that tattoos > without ceremony, symbolism and ritual. My vote is for number 3. I think we engage in numerous ceremonies and rituals which we fail to recognize. No culture which produces chocolate versions of an egg-laying hare is truly devoid of, of, of, something anthropologists ought to be looking at. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ms44278@huey.csun.edu Mike Shupp California State University, Northridge
|