Define ritual of inversion and describe an example. Summarize one ...

[MGLQZ]

Define ritual of inversion and describe an example. Summarize one functionalist interpretation of this category of ritual.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Summarize the differences between the anthropological definition of shaman/shamanka and priest/priestess and identify with what type of culture, in terms of scale, each of these is associated.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[nhea]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. A ritual of inversion is one in which social norms and roles are temporarily reversed.
2. An example is Carnival, a Christian event celebrated before the period of Lent.
3. One functionalist interpretation of these rituals is that they serve to release social pressure through fun and celebration.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. Shamans/shamankas are understood to have direct relationships with the supernaturals, are called, and may be identified by the ability to go into a trance or other markers.
2. The position of a priest/priestess is typically gained through formal training. In many cultures the role is hereditary.
3. This type of religious specialist is associated with smaller-scale societies, such as foraging bands and tribes.
4. Priests, in contrast to shamans, may have some secular role, such as performing rituals in conjunction with state authority.
5. Priests are more associated with complex societies, such as states, where complex occupational specialization leads to more responsibilities for the priests as well as the development of power structures and hierarchies.