Cinematic Ceremony: Toward a New Definition of Ritual

Defining the concept of ritual remains a difficult task for a variety of scholars of ritual studies, from anthropologists to psychologists and sociologists. For cultural concepts that are difficult to define, the documentary film offers a unique opportunity for inquiry. By assessing the responses of critical film viewers and filmmakers with regard to cinematic portrayals of rituals, some new insights emerge. By examining filmmaking and film viewing in conjunction with ritual studies, the author offers a new definition of ritual for societies that rely on film and media for much of their cultural reflection and conversation.