Victor Turner and The ritual process

Abstract

Victor Turner’s The ritual process is discussed as articulating a general sociological theory, a practice theory, concerning the dynamics of continuity and change methodologically grounded in the analysis of rites that address moments of sociocultural and personal existential crisis. The significance of Turner’s development from the work of Arnold van Gennep (rather than Durkheim) is considered in relation to the ongoing contemporary importance of Turner’s intervention across disciplines and in relation to the existential crises that humanity faces.