"Ritual. A Very Short Introducción", Barry Stephenson

This book uses theoretical and historical perspectives to explore where ritual touches everyday life: in politics and power; moments of transformation in the life cycle; as performance3 and embodiment. Barry Stephenson discusses the boundaries of ritual and how and why certain behaviors have been studied as ritual while others have not. He shows how ritual is an importan vehicle for identity formation; how it transmits beliefs; how it can be sued to oppress; and how it can be a touchstone for thinking obout cultural origins and historical change.