Neo-Spiritual Aesthetics: Embodied Transformation in the Israeli Movement Practice Gaga
Ebook
Tracing embodied transformation in the context of Gaga, the Israeli dance improvisation practice, this book demystifies what Lina Aschenbrenner coins as “neo-spiritual aesthetics.” This book takes the reader on an analytical journey through a Gaga class, outlining the effective aesthetics of Gaga as an example for the broader field of neo-spiritualities. It distinguishes a threefold effect of Gaga practice-from a momentary extraordinary experience, to a lasting therapeutic effect, and finally Gaga's worldview potential. It situates the effect in an assemblage of interrelating aesthetics of environment, movement, and bodies.
The book shows why seemingly leisure time activities such as Gaga form fruitful research objects to an academic study of religion and opens up research on neo-spiritual practices. In understanding the sensory effect of practice and its cultural and social implications, the book follows an Aesthetics of Religion approach. It departs from the idea that cognition is embodied and that the body is thus central to understanding cultural and social phenomena. Drawing upon a wide array of data gathered in the context of Gaga at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, the book weaves together different methods of discourse, ritual, movement, body knowledge, and narrative analysis, while acknowledging insights from neuroscience and cognitive science.
Demonstrates both a theoretical and methodical way of incorporating “the body” in the study of religion, drawing on an aesthetics of religion approach.
Demonstrates how and why it is fruitful and necessary to make “leisure time activities” such as Gaga part of the study of religion
Provides an example of how to incorporate “the body” in the study of religion
Draws upon a wide array of data gathered in the context of Gaga at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, Israel
List of Figures and Tables
Lists
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Interlude: A Body-Focused Research Method
Part I. Gaga class-Aesthetics in Creation
1. Influential Culturescape
2. Ritual Environment Shaping Enactment
3. Body Topography in Discussion
4. The Power of Instructions
5. Transformation in Movement
PART II. Gaga Participants-Aesthetics Perceived
6. Narrating Body Knowledge
7. The Wow of Gaga
8. Gaga's Therapeutic Impact
9. Goes Worldview
10. Concluding Thoughts
Notes
References
Index
This book provides a rigorous analysis of how religion and dance can be studied beyond a symbolic understanding. It is a brilliant example of capturing a new movement within the landscape of the recent search for spirituality by taking embodied action seriously and offering an innovative analytical toolkit-'neo-spiritual aesthetics.' This study proves how underestimated the link between religion and movement still is.
This is a thorough, serious, interesting book on a subject not yet developed in academic literature, relevant to anyone interested in the connection between new spiritualities and body practices.
- Title: Neo-Spiritual Aesthetics: Embodied Transformation in the Israeli Movement Practice Gaga
- Author: Lina Aschenbrenner
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781350272897, 9781350272873, 1350272876, 1350272892
- Resource ID: LLS:9781350272897
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-04-09T07:34:34Z
Lina Aschenbrenner is a postdoctoral researcher and dance artist based in Germany.