Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Ecological Rites: Ritual Action in Environmental Protest Events.
AU - Szerszynski, B.
N1 - RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Sociology
PY - 2002/6
Y1 - 2002/6
N2 - Social scientists have noted how radical social movements operate largely in terms of symbol and meaning, both at the level of everyday life and at that of public protest. Using examples from contemporary environmental protest, I argue that this insight can be further elucidated through applying the notion of ritualization. I argue that ritual action is used in environmental protest for a number of different reasons. First, ritual is used to link particular cases to universal meanings and values. Second, ritual is used to set up particular relationships between what is and what could be the case. Third, ritual is used because of the effects of operating through symbol, association and connotation. Fourth, ritual is used to mark out the protest community and its actions from its wider social milieu. Fifth and finally, ritual is used to carve out a 'practical environment' - a segment of space and time made suitable for certain kinds of action and experience.
AB - Social scientists have noted how radical social movements operate largely in terms of symbol and meaning, both at the level of everyday life and at that of public protest. Using examples from contemporary environmental protest, I argue that this insight can be further elucidated through applying the notion of ritualization. I argue that ritual action is used in environmental protest for a number of different reasons. First, ritual is used to link particular cases to universal meanings and values. Second, ritual is used to set up particular relationships between what is and what could be the case. Third, ritual is used because of the effects of operating through symbol, association and connotation. Fourth, ritual is used to mark out the protest community and its actions from its wider social milieu. Fifth and finally, ritual is used to carve out a 'practical environment' - a segment of space and time made suitable for certain kinds of action and experience.
KW - communication • environmental politics • semiotics • social movements • space
U2 - 10.1177/026327602401081521
DO - 10.1177/026327602401081521
M3 - Journal article
VL - 19
SP - 51
EP - 69
JO - Theory, Culture and Society
JF - Theory, Culture and Society
SN - 1460-3616
IS - 3
ER -