Ritual as performance
WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Muay Thai

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Wai Khru and Ram Muay

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Sam Sheridan

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Chronology

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Digital Bibliography

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Wai Khru and Ram Muay Index

     From a performative aspect, the Wai Khru and Ram Muay can be categorized as ritual. Richard Schechner, an early performance studies scholar, alleges that all performance “consists of twice-behaved, coded, transmittable behaviors. This twice-behaved behavior is generated by interactions between ritual and performance. In fact, one definition of performance is: Ritualized behavior conditioned and/or permeated by play.” (2006, 52) On the other side of ritual is play. Ritual is much the same as it sounds. Examples of ritual outside of the Wai Khru and Ram Muay, other events such as weddings, funerals, church services, and even sporting events can be viewed as ritual. 

     The example of sports would include Muay Thai fighting, and thereby include the Wai Khru and Ram Muay, which can bridge the gap between Play and Ritual given that there are hundreds of variations of the Wai Khru and Ram Muay and at least a minor aspect of pomp and preening causing slight variations in the ritual of Wai Khru and Ram Muay.


 

Kris Noteboom.
Copyright © 2001 by University of North Texas. All rights reserved.
Revised: 05 Dec 2007 14:58:14 -0600



The Wai Khru and Ram Muay


The "Wai" Position