On Origins: Behind the Rituals

George, David

doi:10.1080/13528165.1998.10871621

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As pointed by several authors such as Monteiro and Wall (2011), traditional rituals involving elements of dance and theatre play a key role in relieving psychological distress, as well as neutralising and lessening the impact of collective trauma. Sociological and anthropologists studying Theyyam have often pointed out how the ritual serves as a cathartic release of repressed collective social tensions and frictions built into the inequality and contradictions of a caste-ridden society, by creating the ambience of a festival and evoking participatory trance (e.g., Dalrymple, 2010;Flood, 1997;George, 1998;Narayanan, 2006;Pallath, 2013). Indeed, this key feature of Theyyam brings us to an important question that guides the focus of this article-what socio-cultural and psychological functions are realised in keeping Theyyam the prerogative of the lower castes or 'untouchables', who were exploited, oppressed and enslaved to a life of deprivation by the upper castes in the social hierarchy of the society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caste-based Oppression, Trauma and Collective Victimhood in Erstwhile South India: The Collective Therapeutic Potential of Theyyam

Ahammed¹

2019

Psychology and Developing Societies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The decades of collective victimhood and trauma that the oppressed lower caste members in the southern state of India (Kerala) suffered in silence were less known to the world until the socio-religious reform movements offered a space for their collective expression of agitation and unrest. With no socially sanctioned channels to express their injustice and pain, the folk ritual of Theyyam often became the alternative for a cathartic release of transgenerational and collective victimhood and trauma long endured by people belonging to these communities. A common theme of Theyyam discussed in literature is the symbolic meaning of 'empowerment', 'dissent' and 'protest' that Theyyam takes on as the performer embodies a chosen deity. The ritual thereby becomes a temporary outlet for the collective rage, anger and resentment endured by people of the oppressed communities over the years. These insights have implied the healing potential of Theyyam as it offers a safe outlet

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caste-based Oppression, Trauma and Collective Victimhood in Erstwhile South India: The Collective Therapeutic Potential of Theyyam

Ahammed¹

2019

Psychology and Developing Societies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Rituals of Madness in the Practices of Place

Hawkes

2014

J Med Humanit

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While completing a PhD in literature with a focus on the practices of physical and linguistic spaces, I was also working and sleeping (on call) at a dilapidated house in a poorer part of Bristol in case I was needed by one of five paranoid or clinically psychotic residents. I gave out medication in the morning, then went home to study in a small rented room. I began to see ritual everywhere--in my professors' routines; my own habits; the behaviours of the mentally ill patients. This paper is the story of a number of madnesses and the problems with reading ritual performance in everything we do.

show abstract

Democratic Acts: Theatre of Public Trials

Winner¹

2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

On Origins: Behind the Rituals

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Caste-based Oppression, Trauma and Collective Victimhood in Erstwhile South India: The Collective Therapeutic Potential of Theyyam

Caste-based Oppression, Trauma and Collective Victimhood in Erstwhile South India: The Collective Therapeutic Potential of Theyyam

Rituals of Madness in the Practices of Place

Democratic Acts: Theatre of Public Trials

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About