The problem is in the indeterminacy of the agency of “the society”—If I say “I want” it is clear who is the agent of such wanting. If I say “The society wants me to do X” the only clear agency is that of the person (me), but the second part of this unit (“society”) remains vague. It may become specified by some social role holders with “the society” (e.g., “my teacher wants me to do X” or “our police chief wants me not to do Y”), but the agency of “the society” remains hidden behind the social acts of many persons. Analogical rituals of maintaining membership in society can be located in regular signing of the national anthem in the beginning of each school day in a number of countries. The crucial feature of such rituals is their enforced regularity and short duration. Furthermore, the individual meaning system of a person is not monitored in these rituals (e.g. I can “sing” my national anthem by just moving my lips), but the assumption of promoting society membership feeling is introduced to the regular daily routines. The more implicit are the various inserted rituals into the human ordinary lives, the more powerful is their personal acceptance of values they present.

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Signs, Society, and Community

  • Jaan Valsiner

摘要

The problem is in the indeterminacy of the agency of “the society”—If I say “I want” it is clear who is the agent of such wanting. If I say “The society wants me to do X” the only clear agency is that of the person (me), but the second part of this unit (“society”) remains vague. It may become specified by some social role holders with “the society” (e.g., “my teacher wants me to do X” or “our police chief wants me not to do Y”), but the agency of “the society” remains hidden behind the social acts of many persons. Analogical rituals of maintaining membership in society can be located in regular signing of the national anthem in the beginning of each school day in a number of countries. The crucial feature of such rituals is their enforced regularity and short duration. Furthermore, the individual meaning system of a person is not monitored in these rituals (e.g. I can “sing” my national anthem by just moving my lips), but the assumption of promoting society membership feeling is introduced to the regular daily routines. The more implicit are the various inserted rituals into the human ordinary lives, the more powerful is their personal acceptance of values they present.