Reception of structuralism exemplified by research on rite-de-passage in Serbian ethnology and anthropology

Abstract

Research on rite-de-passage marked Serbian ethnology and anthropology especially during the seventies, eighties and to some extent nineties of the 20th century. This paper offers some observations on the attitudes of Serbian scientists towards this method, on the novelties that the rite-de-passage introduced to interpretation of rituals, as well as some shortfalls of this analytical method in Serbia. For future analysis the author proposes more attention on the qualitative change that any ritual incurs, and towards this aim suggests some of the advantages of Van Genep's approach to rites-de-passage.

Keywords

• structuralism
• ritual
• rite de passage
• methodology of ethnology and anthropology