The Pandemic and the Process of Becoming
With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, people find themselves in a prolonged liminal state of transition. Why does that feel so unsettling?
Ritual
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A Curator’s Search for Justice
One museum’s saga of returning stolen vigango statues to Kenya reveals how repatriating sacred objects is both the right thing and a very hard thing to do.
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The Masked Man
A history of masks reveals how humans have used them to hide, disguise, transform, and protect themselves.
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Explaining the Emergence of Coronavirus Rituals
An anthropologist illuminates how both old and new rituals can provide a sense of comfort during times of uncertainty.
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Corporate “Sorcerers” Reveal the Magical Power of Capitalism
A company’s appropriation of an Indigenous ritual highlights the power of businesses to destroy traditions, community ties, and ecosystems.
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Why Winter Solstice Celebrations Persist
On the shortest, darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, people draw strength from traditions that help them celebrate the gradual return of light.