Communitas: The Anthropology of Collective Joy

Contemporary Anthropology of Religion

by Edith Turner

In this seminal work, Edith Turner extends the concept of communitas that Victor Turner developed nearly four decades ago.

Communitas is inspired fellowship, a group's unexpected joy in sharing common experiences, the sense felt by a group when their life together takes on full meaning. Turner shows how communitas is a driving force in history as it operates personally, in religion, in revolution, in all domains of human life. It is grounded in lived events, and may occur as the climax to a process that takes people from violence to shared intimate transcendence. Turner establishes by narration and multicultural case studies the fundamental importance of communitas to human personal, social, and spiritual well-being. She even follows the instinctive response that humanity makes to the overall natural world, thus including the spiritual bonding of the human and the non-human. Then the book shows exactly how we align ourselves to recognize communitas in action. This is—its 'key.' At heart, this is a very religious book, or as Turner writes, a connection among 'nature, spirit-energy, and soul.'

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Religion

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2011

Reviews

[Amy Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful stories. I wish I had read this last year for my anthro final

[Heather G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthropologist Edith Turner passed away recently and so I read this book to learn more about her work. She was the mother of the professor who developed my masters program. There are some insightful gems in this book. It's a study of hope and well-being through community and shared joy. Turner uses ethnographic snippets and personal stories as 'case studies' to illustrate the concept of Communitas, a theory developed by her late-husband, Victor Turner. This book challenges our ability to describe our world through scientific means -- or, at times, even through words. The book has a new-age tone that might not appeal to some, but applies a novel lens to studying spontaneous joy through cooperation and shared purpose. (Think: barn-raising or rescue work during the Katrina disaster).

[Daisy Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! Even if you aren't an anthropologist, reading the world famous Edie Turner's latest book is a true treat. The ethnographies and collection of stories held within its pages are organized topically to demonstrate various opportunities for the shared collective joy of Communitas. We've all felt it at some moment or another and will enjoy it again as you read of other instances. The stories come to life and pull the reader into the same eternal experience over and over. This one is a keeper!