REL 221 Performing Tradition: Art, Religion, Globalization
Visit a museum and it is not uncommon to find—alongside visual displays—exhibitions of "religion" and "culture" in the form of performances. Building upon the idea that "art is a bridge to understanding," festivals, fairs, and classrooms have become venues for artists and religious leaders to bring the global local. Tracing the history of exhibiting cultures, beginning in the late nineteenth century, this course will consider how religions and traditions are represented in different contexts with a range of political and social implications. We will explore the power and politics of ritual transmission, the preservation and transformation of tradition, and contestations over issues of representation and appropriation. We will watch performances, assist with an exhibition, and engage with an artist-in-residence.