TY - JOUR
T1 - The sacred oath of a secret ritual
T2 - Performing authority and submission in the Mafia initiation ceremony
AU - Merlino, R
PY - 2013/12/6
Y1 - 2013/12/6
N2 - This article draws on socio-anthropological theories of ritual and performance to analyse the initiation ceremony of the Sicilian mafia in relation to questions of power, authority and submission. In particular, it looks at the oath of loyalty sworn during the ceremony as a highly symbolic ritual practice which contributes to maintaining and strengthening the social structure of the group and its collective identity.
AB - This article draws on socio-anthropological theories of ritual and performance to analyse the initiation ceremony of the Sicilian mafia in relation to questions of power, authority and submission. In particular, it looks at the oath of loyalty sworn during the ceremony as a highly symbolic ritual practice which contributes to maintaining and strengthening the social structure of the group and its collective identity.
UR - http://www.forumjournal.org//issue/view/57
UR - http://www.forumjournal.org/article/view/685
M3 - Article
SN - 1749-9771
VL - 17
JO - Forum - University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Journal of Culture & the Arts
JF - Forum - University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Journal of Culture & the Arts
ER -