RLA65 Theory of Myth and Ritual

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10:50–12:25 U36
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 35 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/35, only registered: 0/35
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Annotation
The course explains the place and meaning of theory and methodology in the study of myth and ritual. It is aimed at the representative theories of myth and ritual applied in the academic study of religions.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate the knowledge of main theories of myth and ritual;
- differentiate main trends in the theoretical study of myth and ritual;
- evaluate strong and week points of particular theoretical approaches to myth and ritual;
- apply selected theories in particular cases of different religions;
- assess propriety of a theory applied in the individual seminar presentation.
Syllabus
  • (0) Introduction to the course. (1) Elemental definition of myth and ritual. (2) Myth-ritual relation and ways of its conceptualization (W. R. Smith, J. G. Frazer, J. Harrison. G. Murray, F. M. Cornford, A. B. Cook). (3) Evolucionism a intelectualism apllied on the interpretation of mythological thinking (E. B. Tylor, J. G. Frazer, L. Lévy-Bruhl). (4) Theory of ritual in the context of the French sociological school (R. Hertz, H. Hubert, M. Mauss, É. Durkheim). (5) Myth and ritual in the functionalist approach (B. Malinowski, A. R. Radcliffe-Brown, E. E. Evans-Pritchard). (6) Myth and ritual grasped by analytical psychology (S. Freud, C. G. Jung and his pupils). (7) Ontologization of myth (M. Eliade). (8) Structural analysis of myth (C. Lévi-Strauss). (9) Myth and ritual in the symbolic anthropology I (M. Douglas, C. Geertz). (10) Myth and ritual in the symbolic anthropology II (V. Turner). (11) Ritual in ethology and sociobiology (W. Burkert). (12) Cognitive study of religions and the study of ritual (H. Whitehouse, E. T. Lawson, R. N. McCauley).
Literature
  • The myth and ritual theory :an anthology. Edited by Robert A. Segal. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1998, ix, 473 s. ISBN 0-631-20680-9. info
  • Strenski, Ivan. Four Theories of Myth in Twentieth- Century History : Cassirer, Eliade, Levi-Strauss and Malinowski. Iowa City : Univerity of Iowa Press 1987.
  • Bell, C. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York : Oxford University Press 1992. ISBN 0-19-506923-4, 0-19-507613-3.
  • BELL, Catherine M. Ritual : perspectives and dimensions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, xv, 351. ISBN 0195110528. info
  • TURNER, Victor Witter. Průběh rituálu. Translated by Lucie Kučerová. Vyd. 1. Brno: Computer Press, 2004, vii, 194. ISBN 8072269003. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions based on home readings and individual written commentaries, defence of individual seminar paper within the oral examination.
Assessment methods
Requirements for the colloquium / prerequisite for the oral examination
Requirements for colloquium are identical with the prerequisite for the oral examination:
(a) active participation in class discussions;
(b) written commentaries in given sources.
Requirements for the oral examination:
(a) defence of the seminar paper;
(b) basic factual knowledge according to the given list of themes;
(c) interpretative ability in a given field.
The final grade is assessed: 1/3 semestral commentaries; 1/3 defence of seminar paper (a); 1/3 oral examination (b-c).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2015, recent)
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