User:Dykem22c/sandbox

Building on the idea of the "acting actor", (31) ritual is now seen as “cultural performance” (37) and is “dramatisized”. (38) Comparing symbols with either indexicality or iconicity allows for many interpretations of symbolism. (42) Iconicity, for example, within Christianity might include all images of a man hanging on a cross symbolize to a crucifix. Ritual may be understood as communication among people, rather than individuals with the divine. (43) An Islamic example might be, going to Jumu'ah so others perceive you as pious. After a debate of what meaning is, from the views of Clifford Geertz and Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah, the next dichotic lens in which to view ritual is drama vs. performance. (43-44) Drama insinuates the individual participating in the ritual is like an actor; they are simply doing the actions and say things and what their internal thoughts are, are irrelevant. (43) Performance is simply the act of the ritual, the participant can be disregarded. Through text analogy we can see ritual as a text. (43) Text may be seen as unchanging, knowable and designed to be knowable, yet when studying text you can interpret and analyze it for yourself; that allows for variation of meaning, change over time, fluidity, which is essential for ritual. (43-45) However, texts are made to communicate directly with a reader, yet not all rituals communicate in the same way. (45)