Avatar Faculty

Ecstatic Transformations in Religion and Video Games

AvJeffrey G. Snodgrass

Häftad, Engelska, 2023

Del i serien Ethnographic Studies in Subjectivity

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Beskrivning

The Avatar Faculty creatively examines the parallels between spiritual and digital activities to explore the roles that symbolic second selves—avatars—can play in our lives. The use of avatars can allow for what anthropologists call ecstasy, from the Greek ekstasis, meaning "standing outside oneself." The archaic techniques of promoting spiritual ecstasy, which remain central to religious healing traditions around the world, now also have contemporary analogues in virtual worlds found on the internet. In this innovative book, Jeffrey G. Snodgrass argues that avatars allow for the ecstatic projection of consciousness into alternate realities, potentially providing both the spiritually possessed and gamers access to superior secondary identities with elevated social standing. Even if only temporary, self-transformations of these kinds can help reduce psychosocial stress and positively improve health and well-being.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2023-01-10
Mått:152 x 229 x 18 mm
Vikt:363 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Ethnographic Studies in Subjectivity
Antal sidor:280
Förlag:University of California Press
ISBN:9780520384361

Utforska kategorier

Antropologi inom Samhälle och politik
Psykologi inom Psykologi och pedagogik
Religion: allmänt inom Filosofi och religion

Mer om författaren

Jeffrey G. Snodgrass is Professor of Anthropology at Colorado State University.

Recensioner i media

"Scholars and social scientists of religion will find much of interest in this book, because it explores the increasingly uncertain borders of 'religion,' when secularization may be obscuring the meaning of the concept without actually satisfying the human need for sacred norms and profound meanings."

Innehållsförteckning

ContentsList of IllustrationsKey Terms and AbbreviationsPreface Central Characters and SettingsIntroduction 1 • Sacred and Secular Settings 2 • The Psychology of Avatar Therapeutics: Absorptive Experiences and Stress Relief3 • The Psychosocial Dynamics of Avatar Therapeutics: Enhanced Self-Image and Elevated Social Standing 4 • Distinguishing Therapeutic from Toxic Avatar Experiences: Norm Conflicts and Felt Dissonance Conclusion AcknowledgmentsAppendix A. Chapter 2 Supplemental Material: Survey Methods and Results Appendix B. Chapter 3 Supplemental Materials:Survey Methods and ResultsAppendix C. Chapter 4 Supplemental Material:Survey Methods and Results Notes Glossary References Index