week 8

Public Service Announcement

  • Membership Opportunities

    • Open to all UM (University of Manitoba) students

    • Does not require Christian affiliation

    • Membership fee ranges from $10 to $19 per term

  • Benefits of Membership

    • Access to various events and resources

    • Eligibility for scholarships and bursaries

  • St. John’s College Information

    • Scholarships and bursaries details: https://umanitoba.ca/st-johns-college/student-experience/scholarships-bursaries-prizes/june-1-deadline

    • Workshops on applying for scholarships/bursaries

    • Scheduled for late March/early April

    • Registration link: https://umanitoba.ca/st-johns-college/form/scholarship-workshop

  • St. Paul’s College Information

    • Scholarships and bursaries details: https://umanitoba.ca/st-pauls-college/student-experience/scholarships-bursaries

Exploring the Concept of Ritual

  • Objective: Apply the conception of ritual as the production of difference

  • Questions for Exploration

    • How does a Spiritualist séance produce difference?

    • How does the Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage) produce difference?

    • How does the Eucharist (Christian sacrament) produce difference?

    • How does a marriage ceremony produce difference?

    • How does glossolalia (speaking in tongues) produce difference?

Religion for Breakfast

  • Topic: "What 'Speaking in Tongues' Does to Your Brain"

    • Discussion of the neurological and psychological effects of glossolalia.

Class Overview

A Ritual View of Communication

  • Course Information

    • Class: RLGN 1450

    • Date: February 25, 2026

Key Theories and Theorists

James Carey

  • Biography:

    • Lived from 1934 to 2006

    • Influential theorist in communication and media studies

    • Worked as a journalism instructor

  • Contributions:

    • Authored extensive works on the electric telegraph and its impact on modern social life

    • The excerpt on the ‘ritual view of communication’ is among his most significant and influential works

Discussion Questions

  • Understanding Carey’s Theories

    • What does Carey mean by “a ritual view of communication”?

    • Definition: Focuses on the ways communication creates a shared identity and collective experience rather than merely transmitting information.

    • Distinction from “transmission view of communication”:

    • Transmission view emphasizes the transfer of information from sender to receiver.

  • Relation to McLuhan’s Argument

    • How does Carey’s “ritual view of communication” connect to Marshall McLuhan’s assertion that “the medium is the message”?

    • Both emphasize the importance of the medium (form) in shaping societal impacts over mere content (message).

  • Connection to Media and Religion

    • How does Carey’s distinction relate to our understanding of media in religion?

    • Instrumentalist approach: Views media as a tool used within religious contexts.

    • Religion as media/media as religion approach: Considers how religious practices themselves create meaning and social realities through their communicative functions.

Group Discussion Activity

  • Task: Apply a “ritual view of communication” to various scenarios

    • Examples for Group Discussion:

    • Watching a TV show immediately as it is released each week (e.g., The Pitt)

    • Sharing memes in a group chat

    • Following a skincare regimen

    • Participating in the daily Wordle puzzle

    • Engaging in doomscrolling

    • Encouragement to create and discuss additional examples.