Possibilities and limitations of researching modern ritual practices by visual means

On April 19 Obukhov A.S. (PhD, senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Modern Childhood of the Institute of Education of the Higher School of Economics) took part in the "Culture matters" research seminar with the report "Possibilities and limitations of researching modern ritual practices by visual means".

Specific examples of video recordings of different types of rituals (open and closed types) recorded in various regions of Russia (Altai, Buryatia, Khakassia, Ossetia, etc.), as well as in Mexico and Iran, discussed the problem of the limits of video fixing opportunities and the problem of representation of ritual practices. Scenery or authenticity, the shooting of the action "to show" or "camera as an intermediary," silently or in dialogue: various visible aspects that reveal the limitations and opportunities of the researcher in studying the visible side of the life of people of a different culture. And also the algorithm of the researcher's action in the situation of natural social and cultural barriers: joining the community - coexistence in action - feedback with people.