Definition and Anatomy of Rites of Passage
by Stephen Balfour, for LBAR 181 on January 23, 2002
Arnold Van Gennep coined the term "rite of passage" and defined them
as rites which accompany any change in social state, age, place, or life
cycle stage like birth, puberty, marriage, and death. This little
definition packs a lot of meaning, so let's break it down a bit.
I. Human Becoming
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What does it mean to be human?
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Nature versus nurture
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Unique characteristics of humans
II. Culture
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Society
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Definitions
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Class definition of culture exercise
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In the social sciences, what is culture?
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Trivia: What is haute culture? What is it's opposite?
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Symbols
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Language
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Values
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Norms
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American Culture
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Is there an American Culture?
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Examples from your life
III. Rite of Passage
What is a Rite?
Rites of Passage
Definition: The culturally prescribed actions which accompany changes
in the life cycle or societal states
Societal states
Characteristics of a rite of passage
Stage 1: Separation
Stage 2: Limenality
Stage 3: Reintigration
back to the syllabus
for LBAR 181