Liminality and Liminal Spaces

• Space in between 2 places
• Liminality is process of being in or crossing the space
• Spatial or termporal threshold
• Considered a product of a ritual process
• Examples

  Marriage

  Sixth form to uni

  18th birthday

  Graduation
• Short period of time where rules change- identity changes
• Old rules gone new hasn't started-strange behaviour
• 1. Rights of passage

  Purpose of event as to facilitate transition
• 2. Events creating liminal spaces

  Opportunity doe escapism

  Provide 'possibility for challenging social conventions'

  Social order and converting societies norms
• 3. Behavioural patterns associated with a liminal experience

  Emergence of anti-structure temporary supression of normal social status

  Development of 'communialist' bond shared between those with liminal experience

  Impact: Enables participants to be considered as equals, new hierarchies created within groups when status afforded to those shared values within liminal space