The Taraweeh Prayer. Creation of Sacred Space in the Perspective of Performance Studies

One may enter a church to attend a sermon, rearrange finally the living room to feel more ‘at home’ or step onto the podium in the auditorium to lecture a class: In all these examples the influence of ‘space’ on the emotion one senses could not be stressed enough. When I observed the taraweeh prayer, an important ritual during Ramadan, the significance but even more the flexibility of ‘space’ astonished me. The prayer should normally take place in a mosque, but due to the COVID-19-restricitions in Albania, it was not allowed to attend large gatherings. Hence, the prayer happened to be in the home of a befriended person, where all participants would meet to conduct it. Originally, my research plan was to focus on the prayer and its atmosphere, but the transition of an ordinary living room to a sacred prayer space struck me. What kind of transition has happened there? Why did I feel that there was a change, and how did the others perceive these moments?

This seminar paper serves perfectly as an overview of how ritual can be understood in the perspective of performance studies. On the one hand, it explains different understandings of ritual, on the other hand it focuses on a specific approach of performance studies: Performance theory of Richard Schechner. The present paper shows how performance theory offers a variety of possibilities to analyze ritual. The field research should lead to a better understanding of sacred space and allow an analysis of its diverse aspects due to the observed ritual and the individual perception of the interviewed participant.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Ritual and performance theory
• 2.1 Clarification of terms used
• 2.1.1 The variety of understanding ritual
• 2.1.2 What is performance?
• 2.1.3 Performance studies and its meaning
• 2.2 Concepts of analysis
• 2.2.1 Performance processes: time and space model
• 2.2.2 Mapping and adjusting Schechner's model
• 3. The Taraweeh prayer
• 3.1 The history
• 3.2 The script
• 4. Method and process: participative observation and interviews
• 5. Ethnographic insights and results
• 5.1 The importance of intentionality
• 5.2 The creation of sacred space
• 5.3 Conclusion
• 6. Retrospection

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the transformation of an ordinary living room into a sacred space during a Taraweeh prayer, using performance studies as a framework. The research explores the interplay between ritual, performance, and the creation of sacred space within a context altered by COVID-19 restrictions. * The definition and diverse understandings of ritual. * The concept of performance and its application to religious practices. * The creation and perception of sacred space within a non-traditional setting. * The role of intentionality in shaping the ritual experience. * The impact of context (COVID-19 restrictions) on ritual performance.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by describing the author's observation of a Taraweeh prayer held in a private home due to COVID-19 restrictions. The unexpected transformation of the ordinary living room into a sacred space sparked the author's interest in exploring the relationship between ritual, performance, and the creation of sacred space. The chapter establishes the research questions that guide the study and outlines the paper's structure, emphasizing the integration of ritual theory and performance studies to analyze the observed phenomenon. The author acknowledges the limitations of the study and its scope, clarifying that it doesn't aim for complete inclusivity of all complex aspects involved. 2. Ritual and performance theory: This chapter provides a critical overview of existing literature on ritual and performance, establishing the theoretical foundation for the analysis. The author delves into various definitions of "ritual," comparing psychological, religious, and anthropological perspectives. The chapter highlights the importance of "difference" in defining ritual, emphasizing the framing and set-up of actions as crucial elements. The concept of the "transcendent" as a participant in ritual is also addressed, contextualizing the Taraweeh prayer's connection to religious beliefs. Finally, the chapter discusses the script and performance aspects of rituals, noting that the actual performance may deviate from the prescribed script due to various contextual factors. 3. The Taraweeh prayer: This chapter provides background information on the Taraweeh prayer, offering historical context and a description of its script or typical structure. While details are not provided in the given text, this section would presumably explore the prayer's significance within Islam, its prescribed elements, and the variations that may exist across different communities. This section would lay the groundwork for the ethnographic observations and analysis presented in the subsequent chapters. 4. Method and process: participative observation and interviews: This chapter would detail the methodologies used in the research. It would describe the author's participation in the Taraweeh prayer and the interviews conducted with participants. This section would critically address the chosen methods, outlining the strengths and limitations of the approach, and how it informs the analysis of the transition from profane to sacred space. 5. Ethnographic insights and results: This chapter presents the core findings of the research based on the participative observation and interviews. It would analyze the observed transformations of the space, and critically discuss how participants perceived and contributed to the shift from a domestic to a sacred environment. The section would analyze the importance of intentionality in creating the sacred atmosphere.

Frequently asked questions

What is the document about?

This document is a language preview for a research paper. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords related to the research.

What is the title of the research paper likely to be?

The title is not explicitly stated, but based on the content, it likely concerns the transformation of an ordinary living room into a sacred space during a Taraweeh prayer, using performance studies as a framework.

What is the main research focus?

The research explores the interplay between ritual, performance, and the creation of sacred space within a context altered by COVID-19 restrictions.

What are the key themes of the research?

The key themes include:

• The definition and diverse understandings of ritual.
• The concept of performance and its application to religious practices.
• The creation and perception of sacred space within a non-traditional setting.
• The role of intentionality in shaping the ritual experience.
• The impact of context (COVID-19 restrictions) on ritual performance.

What is the structure of the research paper?

The paper is structured as follows:

1. Introduction
2. Ritual and performance theory
3. The Taraweeh prayer
4. Method and process: participative observation and interviews
5. Ethnographic insights and results
6. Retrospection

What is the introduction about?

The introduction describes the author's observation of a Taraweeh prayer held in a private home due to COVID-19 restrictions, sparking interest in the relationship between ritual, performance, and the creation of sacred space. It also establishes the research questions and outlines the paper's structure.

What does the "Ritual and performance theory" chapter cover?

This chapter provides a critical overview of existing literature on ritual and performance, establishing the theoretical foundation for the analysis. It delves into various definitions of "ritual," highlighting the importance of "difference" and addressing the concept of the "transcendent" in ritual.

What is the focus of the "The Taraweeh prayer" chapter?

This chapter provides background information on the Taraweeh prayer, offering historical context and a description of its script or typical structure. It would likely explore the prayer's significance within Islam, its prescribed elements, and the variations that may exist.

What methodologies are used in the research?

The research utilizes participative observation and interviews to gather data and insights.

What are the expected outcomes of the "Ethnographic insights and results" chapter?

This chapter is expected to present the core findings of the research, analyzing the observed transformations of the space and discussing how participants perceived and contributed to the shift from a domestic to a sacred environment. It will also analyze the importance of intentionality in creating the sacred atmosphere.

Details

• College: University of Fribourg (Philosophische Fakultät)
• Course: Ritual: Theory and Practice (Seminar)
• Grade: 6.0
• Author: Mirjam Steiner (Author)
• Publication Year: 2021
• Pages: 37
• Catalog Number: V1552957
• ISBN (eBook): 9783389116937
• ISBN (Book): 9783389116944
• Language: English
• Tags: Ritual Islam Performance Theory Performance Studies Taraweeh Prayer Sacred Space Fieldresearch