Risk, Ritual and Performance

摘要: Performance approaches to the interpretation of ritual highlight process, presence, strategy and uniqueness. They are often favourably contrasted textual said emphasize meaning, structure stability. However, this sharp distinction can be maintained only by ignoring notion inscription, which is central text. Inscription a political process involves risk, struggle. Moreover, commonly performance neglect questions risk in action. Ritual seen as suppressing but many rituals events involving high risk. This article considers various Balinese prominent feature, suggests ways focus on may aid our understanding ritual. One reason metaphor 'performance' has been popular analysis concern that insufficiently appreciate importance ritual's occasion. Text considered inferior metaphors dialogue performance, latter advanced compensate for apparent failings former.' Metaphors text tend construe an almost automatic acting out rules based underlying cultural logic. turns action into symbolic action, becomes disclosing meaning embedded symbols. For reasons theorists argue involve more than this. Officiants participants always bring their own competencies, reputations interests ceremony, so specific rather exercise repetition, what important about it personnel make opportunities. Consequently, metaphors, with emphasis displace doing, performative dimension however, works not level also emotionally socially, any particular occasion being conditioned factors other prescribed rules. Despite growing consensus merits I think pays inadequate attention elements inevitably accompany performances. shall criticism problematical. article, therefore, three aims: case continuing significance text; trace some relations between performance; comment neglected aspect The ethnography concentrates performances figures prominently.