New Books in Anthropology cover image

New Books in Anthropology

Audun Kjus et al., "Adventures in the Play-Ritual Continuum" (Utah State UP, 2024)

Feb 21, 2025
Audun Kjus, a folklorist and cultural historian from the Norse Volksmuseum, dives into the intriguing intersections of play and ritual. He discusses how playful experiences influence serious rituals like marriage proposals and community gatherings. Highlighting the emotional depth of seemingly trivial moments, Kjus explores the cultural significance of practices like ash scatterings and fandom celebrations. He also emphasizes the role of playfulness in museums, encouraging innovative approaches to cultural exhibitions that resonate with audiences.
51:07

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Collaboration in research enhances creativity and insight, as demonstrated by a successful project on children's games at a museum.
  • The evolving theatricality of marriage proposals highlights a playful integration of societal expectations into personal rituals, showcasing a disconnect with historical practices.

Deep dives

Collaboration in Research

Working in collaboration can significantly enhance the research process, as highlighted in the podcast. The speaker emphasizes the importance of teamwork, drawing from the author's experience at a museum where collective efforts led to a successful project on children's games. Engaging in discussions and reading groups fosters creativity and generates valuable insights that contribute to academic work. This collaborative approach underlines the necessity of shared intellectual endeavors in the field of anthropology and folklore.

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