Arnold van Gennep
French ethnographer and folklorist best known for Les Rites de Passage (1909), which introduced the tripartite structure of rites of passage—separation, liminality, and incorporation—foundational to anthropology, sociology, and the study of ritual and folklore.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Rites Of Passage
An influential anthropological study that identifies a common pattern in rituals marking life transitions. It argues that ceremonies surrounding birth, initiation, marriage, and death typically unfold in three stages—separation, liminality, and incorporation—guiding individuals from one social status to another. Drawing on diverse cross-cultural examples, it shows how these rites manage uncertainty, reaffirm communal values, and maintain social cohesion.
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