Where places fold: The co-production of matter and meaning in an Aymara ritual setting
This article explores the enigmatic centrality of a seemingly unoccupied place located at the very heart of an Andean community in northern Chile. It investigates how the apparent emptiness of a ritual site paradoxically operates as an ineffable agent that articulates beings, things and landscapes....
| Published in: | Journal of material culture |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage Publ.
[2019]
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| In: |
Journal of material culture
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| IxTheo Classification: | AF Geography of religion AG Religious life; material religion BB Indigenous religions BR Ancient religions of the Americas KBR Latin America ZB Sociology |
| Further subjects: | B
Materiality
B Ritual B Topology B Aymara B Meaning B Place |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | This article explores the enigmatic centrality of a seemingly unoccupied place located at the very heart of an Andean community in northern Chile. It investigates how the apparent emptiness of a ritual site paradoxically operates as an ineffable agent that articulates beings, things and landscapes. The author argues that the study of what happens in this place is of significance beyond regional studies. It goes beyond the usual cultural frameworks to consider theoretical concepts such as topology, materiality, vitality and relationality. In order to explore this, he investigates how the empty' heart of the ceremonial centre, Isluga Marka - the place that blurs borders and centres (taypi) - emerges as a theoretically challenging topological phenomenon. The ethnography underlying this article is problematized in order to contribute to the general understanding of how matter, place and meaning can become entangled and mutually constituted. |
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| ISSN: | 1460-3586 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of material culture
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/1359183518803385 |