Myers, Santino, Whitaker, Warner, and Wills on American Rituals and Rights of Passage

In “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” Wills analyzes the news pieces and representations of Pope John’s visit, consisting of a seven day journey. This particular journey was publicized in a way that even amazes the news world. Wills displays and critiques the media’s portrayal of the pope’s journey, while emphasizing aspects of the Pope’s visit as exceptional and highly prominent. There was no hard news to report, but that was the point. The humanity and effortless goodness was depicted as the important factor of the quest. Finding miracles, portraying Pope as technological faith healer serve as analysis of superstition.

Each article discusses American rituals and their symbolic features. Rites of passages serve as a central theme in each analysis as well. Questions pertaining to analysis arise concerning these articles, demonstrating the considerable amount of material presented.

“Greatest Story” relates to “Christmas Unwrapped” by focusing on the symbolic elements of an image’s interpretation. The idea of Santa Claus as icon and the expressive news of the pope’s special visit fulfill expectations by creating a desirable function of goodness and cheerfulness in their depictions. The pope serves as a true icon of grace; his visit proves the effect he has on communities. Ironically the mass media may swoon over the pope’s visit, but at the same time limit the representation of Nativity scenes.

“Christmas Unwrapped” coincides with aspects of “Halloween” and “American Funeral Rituals” by emphasizing rites of passage. Processes are depicted through patterns and images, allowing for individuals to link certain fantasies and future expectations. Santa’s symbolic function as a mystification in relation to the American Christmas coincides with the amazement of the pope’s visit. Santa’s mythic status is reinforced by his symbolic functions; the pope’s persona and grace is reinforced by his effect on individuals.

Memorial Day ritual analysis relates to each article through the explanations of ritual patterns and expectations. Viewing Memorial Day as a cult system relates to depictions of initial aspects of Santino’s “Halloween,” because it pertains to rituals at times associated with clouded judgments. Memorial Day is also hyped up, but possibly for the wrong reasons. Halloween is highly celebrated and often overly addressed, while also serving with mistaken aspects. Focus on the lives of the fallen soldiers and why and what they died for is sometimes overlooked in the pattern of the ritual of Memorial Day. Jesus is the reason for the season, but Santa gets so much credit commercially. Halloween is the eve of All Saint’s Day, but individuals barely make the connection. These correlations suggest the pull of media aspects on American culture and the effects of the patterns of rituals.

Therapeutic discourse relates to the depictions of such American rituals. Therapeutic discourse refers to the method of communicating that appeals to emotions, rather than provision of facts. Ideological cultural formations formed in “Christmas” and “Halloween” coincide with their ritual patterns. The process of rites of passages

Reporters sending season’s greetings instead of facts plays along the lines of therapeutic discourse, while extending in to the fantasy world of Santa Claus as icon. The five stages of the funeral ritual apply to therapeutic discourse in the sense that this process appeals to the emotional aspects of the process. Each stage of the funeral ritual is a step in the healing process, relating back to emotions.

The significance of rites of passage in American reveals the unity that takes place with each ritual. Views and expectations may vary from ritual to ritual, but the joining together of groups indicates the salience of American ritual purposes.