Word: rituals
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...jargon-free, almost lyrical prose, Coming of Age described how a cultural web of ritual, taboo, kinship and history formed the typical Samoan personality. Growing up is "so easy, so simple," she found, because "Samoa is a place where no one plays for very high stakes, suffers for his convictions or fights to the death. Caring is slight." The book became a bestseller and basic reading for introductory social-science courses; it is still in print. Though the work broke no theoretical ground, Margaret Mead's conclusion that the Samoan teen-ager was calm and free from trauma provided...
Syria's governments have been over thrown so often that there is by now a certain ritual for a coup: martial music on Damascus radio, stentorian communiqués, tanks rumbling in the streets and the losers either shot or sent into exile. Last week, as rumors of yet an other upheaval continued to pour out of Damascus, the usual signs were ab sent. In fact, the supposed new strong man, Defense Minister Hafiz Assad, even showed up in public with the men he had reportedly overthrown, President Noureddine al Atassi and Baath Party Boss Salah Jadid. What...
...ritual of most British television commentators is as fixed and inflexible as the Nelson Monument, and it calls for a straight face and unwavering tone before even the obvious follies of the mighty. The broadcaster who established the form was the late Richard Dimbleby, the eloquent voice of Britain whose specialty was such sonorous events as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. Last week Dimbleby the Second - Richard's 30-year-old son David - revised the ritual for the BBC. To mark Richard Nixon's visit to Britain, he gave...
...technique of the takeover ranges all the way from polite negotiation to sneak attack. If the takeover is a friendly seduction, it usually follows a rather elaborate ritual. The first contact is often arranged by investment bankers, who stand to collect fees of up to $1,000,000 for arranging the merger. The potential partners usually meet at a country club or on some other neutral ground. They size each other up stiffly and uneasily; drinks are practically never served. If extreme secrecy is necessary, the top executives travel to out-of-town hotels where they figure nobody will recognize...
...Last War's End, the first play on the bill, is subtitled "A Ritual." That gives it all away. Even though I realize rituals have been with us for a long time, I can't help but resent their current popularization. Done poorly--as they usually are--they are often just an excuse for rehashing tired banalities...