Able Quote by Jonathan Raban
“Sociology and anthropology are not disciplines which take easily to situations where people are able to live out their fantasies, not just in the symbolic action of ritual, but in the concrete theater of society at large.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Journey to the Dark Heart, Jonathan Raban, 1995
The quote suggests that sociology and anthropology struggle to understand societies where people can fully enact their fantasies, both symbolically and concretely.
In simple terms: These fields find it hard to study societies that let people live out fantasies.
Recognize limits of social science in fantastical contexts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- urban festivals
- virtual worlds
- experimental communities
- artistic collectives
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do rituals shape everyday life?
- Can fantasy-driven societies be sustainable?
Such societies may be rare or idealized, limiting empirical study.