Blood Sacrifice and the Nation: Totem Rituals and the American Flag (Cambridge Cultural Social Studies)

Marvin, Carolyn,Ingle, David W.

ISBN 10: 0521626099 / ISBN 13: 9780521626095

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1999

About this Item

Seller Inventory # mon0003916857

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Blood Sacrifice and the Nation: Totem Rituals and the American Flag (Cambridge Cultural Social Studies)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521626099
• ISBN 13: 9780521626095
• Binding: paperback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

The authors argue that American patriotism is a civil religion organized around a sacred flag, whose followers engage in periodic blood sacrifice of their own children to unify the group. Using an anthropological theory, this groundbreaking book presents and explains the ritual sacrifices and regeneration that constitute American nationalism, the factors making particular elections or wars successful or unsuccessful rituals, the role of the mass media in the process, and the sense of malaise that has pervaded American society during the post-World War II period.

Book Description

American patriotism is a civil religion organized around a sacred flag. Its followers engage in periodic blood sacrifice of their own children to unify the group. Using an anthropological theory, this groundbreaking book presents and explains the ritual sacrifices and regeneration that constitute American nationalism, the factors making particular elections or wars successful or unsuccessful rituals, the role of the mass media in the process, and the sense of malaise that has pervaded American society during the post-World War II period.