[LIT main page]  [^^fleeding HOME page]  [Performance RITUAL page]
Fiction vs Ritual

This is a growing recongnition that fiction is a form of
ritual. In the course that i am currently taking
"Ritual and Performance", it has begun to occur to me
that science fiction (the "literature of the future"
and sf author James Blish called it) is indeed becoming
an important aspect of world culture. 

This page is the beginning of the investigation of this
concept.

On this page:  {Brief summary of Ritual elemetns} (w/links)
               {SF as Sustaining Force in Life}
               {web links for literary studies}
               {Klingon Resources}

all concerns should be emailed to the following addr:

   email: fleeding@hotmail.com

-- Frank R.H. Leeding


 

Ritual Summary

Note: I am by no means an expert in this area and am pursuing
      this work as part of my studies in the ATEC (Arts & Technolgoy)
program at UT Dallas. Waiver: These are my own oppinions and do not
reflect the policies, and/or oppinions of UTD, etc: [Full disclaimer avail in this doc]

From my various (introductory) readings, ritual goes something 
like this:

Arnold Van Gennep came up with the idea of "liminality" - meaning
literally a "threshold" -- in dealing with what he termed "rites
of passage". Of course, his work stood on the shoulders of various
researches before him, but his work "Rites of Passage" is stil
considered the cornerstone to modern literary studies.

Along the way, others (notably Victor W. Turner and Roy A. Rapport)
extended these ideas and finally has emerged the concept of "communitas"
-- roughly paralleling the idea of community.

Rituals mark (denote a change in) the phases of "being and becoming".
For insance, the rituals involved in marriage cermonies, the various
coming of age ceremonies, etc. 

To look at one case in detail, in many cultures a person is *formally* 
and *ritually* "welcomed into the group of elders". That is:

   In the pre-liminal stage the person(s) is(are) 
   of having the rites of "adulthood". Their job,
   position and the respects paid to them are of
   a certain kind.

   In transition, they undergo the process of "separation".
   This is the "initiation" ceremony where they give up
   the previous status of "adulthood" and prepare for the
   ritual of becoming an elder.

   In the "liminal" state they pass through the process of
   becoming accepted as an elder. They perform and are involved
   in performed actions that "transfer to them" this new status.

   Finally, in the "post-liminal" phase they are "re-integrated"
   into the tribe as a whole. They are now (eg) allowed to sit
   with other elders at various feasts, ceremonies, etc. 

In almost every case, the post-liminal phase of a rite of passage
is celebrated with a feast and special actions; eg, toasts, pledges,
presents, etc.

[Addition resources/papers] (rituals link on PERF page)

Next:  SF as Sustaining Narrative for Life.



SF as Sustaining Narrative for Life

In recent times, Science Fiction (SF for short, natch) *is*
an area of legitimate fiction. One only has to look at the
following to see that:

   "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. LeGuinn
   "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov
   "The Light That Never Was" by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
   "The Time Machine" by H. G. Welles.
   "The Mysterious Island" by Jules Vernes
etc

Coupled with this, we add the growing recognition that fiction 
is a form of ritual. Certainly the way that both fiction and 
non-fiction are "turned into print" is definitely a ritual. 

We as futurists view the world in a some-what unique way. In
one respect the *narrative* of what we do is as old as time
itself. And yet, the manner in which we approach the "present"
and our view of the "future" is certainly *not* the norm in
non-sf and non-fantasy fiction. Part of the sense of being
a part of the on-going narrative any culture is carry with
the tokens, symbols, and stations of office of that culture.

These give us not only a sense of who we are, but how we
fit into that cutlure. And most imporantly, these give us
reference points and strengths to not just survive the absurdity
of the world around us, but to actually thrive, create, and 
lend peace to our much troubled world.

Nor do i think that we should be appologetic for this, the
visions built by SF writers are among the most moving (either
inspiring or frighening) of narratives in *any* genre. I carry
my towel with me, as well as wear my "NCC-1701A Crew" pin with
pride. Indeed, the visions of both Douglas Adams and Gene 
Roddenberry are among the most inspiring of any ever conceived
by what Jim Henson called "The Lovers, the Dreamers, and You".

We could do worse than to wish for a planet not tied down to
the drudgery of everyday life, nor tied to the dog-eat-dog
of global ecconomic/governmental/military domination. 

And so: Onward into the fog.  

   "And they step nervously out of the time
    portal into the year 2001; not knowing 
    quite what to expect".
              -- the fiction that is the truth that we
                 are living NOW.

(you are here, now -- see map)


Next:  Web links & Klingon Resources.

 

Web Links

[Joseph R. Allen]
    Source: Comparative Literature; 
    Fall93, Vol. 45 Issue 4, p305, 25p 

    [Allen's paper, mirrored] (with my notes)

A primary reference in Allen's work is that of Greene:

[text?]
    Greene, Roland. Post-Petrarchism: Origins and 
            Innovations of the Western Lyric Sequence. 
            Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991. 



Klingon Resources
Q'apla!

In this section:  {Intro}
                  {Links to Klingo-based web sites}

See also:  [Klingon Intro Letter] (request for info memo)


Intro to Things Klingon
As per the excellent documentary film "Trekies] (imdb entry), one of
the most persistent groups is that of the Klingons. From a cultural POV,
they clearly embody many of the nobler rituals, beliefs, and customs
of the warrior concept; eg, the code of the Samurai, etc. For instance,
several Klingon groups perform significant community service, others
are simply places to "hang out" and think in the Klingon way.
From my POV, this is no different that tail-gate parties that
occur before and after a football game, bridge/chess tournaments,
and so forth. 

On the one hand the cynic might say that that since this is an
"artificial" group and created not in some "traditional way",
that it can *not* be considered "normal behaviour". However,
i would maintain that it is no different than literary circles,
poetry reading groups, or even quilting bees. It should be noted
that all of these contribute significantly to the ideas of 
communitas and provide structure for the individuals participating
in these activities. 

As such, in this on-going project, i came to the idea to 
contact the groups to begin studying this cultural aspect
of hominid life on Earth (see map).

Next:  Klingon Web Links.


  


Klingon Web Links

[Klingon FAQ and jump page]

Clubs Listed on that Page

  [Khemorex Klinzhai! ]  email:  firstcontact@khemorex-klinzhai.de
  [KAI - Klingon Armada International ] email: kaicatalyst@gmail.com
  [KAG - Klingon Assault Group ]  email: kuuriis@juno.com 
     [] (blood-oath-org) 

  [KAG Kanada - Klingon Assault Group Kanada ] email: KSFCommand@aol.com

  [KDFS ] **NLA** email:  kilmarac@kdfs.net
      [**TGA** "out-dated link"] 

 *[Dorsai Irregulars] email: contact@di.org

  [KDC - The Klingon Diplomatic Corp ] **NLA** email: Klingon@klingon.org

  [KEP - Klingon Embassy Poland ] **NIA** **NLA** (no link avail)

  [KIDC - Klingon Imperial Diplomatic Corps ] 
  [KLAS - Klingons Lending Assistance and Support ] **NLA** email: mmarbut@mo-net.com 

  [KLAW - Klingon Legion of Assault Warriors ] email:  korvette@handofkahless.com
  [KSF - Klingon Strike Force ] **NLA** email: KSFCommand@aol.com Margie McDonnell
  [KWS - Klingon Warrior Society ] **NLA** email:  bentoam@mail.auburn.edu email: sajqa1@juno.com

  [KAF - Komorex Attack Fleet ] **NLA** email:  Tintle@worldnet.att.net
  [The Most Ancient Order Of The Knights Of The Qaptaq ] email: qaptaq@aol.com
  [Muskogee Klingons ] email:klingon@mynewroads.com
                             email: ikvbloodsword@hotmail.com email: klingondet@sbcglobal.net

  [Warriors of Kahless ] email:
      [alt addr] 
      email: warriors_of_kahless@smartgroups.com/