The Body and the Profane

Description: This quiz will test your understanding of the concept of 'The Body and the Profane' in Indian sociology.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: sociology of the body indian sociology the body and the profane
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Who is the author of the book 'The Body and the Profane'?

  1. Mary Douglas

  2. Robert Hertz

  3. Marcel Mauss

  4. Emile Durkheim


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Mary Douglas is a British anthropologist who wrote the book 'The Body and the Profane' in 1966.

What is the central argument of Douglas's book 'The Body and the Profane'?

  1. The body is a source of pollution and danger.

  2. The body is a symbol of social order and hierarchy.

  3. The body is a site of resistance and subversion.

  4. The body is a source of pleasure and enjoyment.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Douglas argues that the body is a source of pollution and danger because it is associated with bodily fluids and excretions, which are considered to be impure. This pollution can be transmitted to others through contact with the body or with objects that have been in contact with the body.

What are some of the ways in which the body can be polluted?

  1. Through contact with bodily fluids and excretions

  2. Through contact with objects that have been in contact with the body

  3. Through contact with people who are considered to be impure

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body can be polluted through contact with bodily fluids and excretions, through contact with objects that have been in contact with the body, and through contact with people who are considered to be impure.

What are some of the consequences of bodily pollution?

  1. Illness

  2. Social ostracism

  3. Economic hardship

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Bodily pollution can lead to illness, social ostracism, economic hardship, and even death.

How can bodily pollution be prevented?

  1. By avoiding contact with bodily fluids and excretions

  2. By avoiding contact with objects that have been in contact with the body

  3. By avoiding contact with people who are considered to be impure

  4. By performing rituals of purification


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Bodily pollution can be prevented by performing rituals of purification, such as bathing, washing hands, and using disinfectants.

What is the relationship between the body and the sacred?

  1. The body is a source of pollution and danger, while the sacred is pure and holy.

  2. The body is a symbol of social order and hierarchy, while the sacred is a source of chaos and disorder.

  3. The body is a site of resistance and subversion, while the sacred is a source of authority and control.

  4. The body is a source of pleasure and enjoyment, while the sacred is a source of pain and suffering.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Douglas argues that the body is a source of pollution and danger, while the sacred is pure and holy. This is because the body is associated with bodily fluids and excretions, which are considered to be impure. The sacred, on the other hand, is associated with order, purity, and perfection.

How does the body mediate the relationship between the individual and society?

  1. The body is a source of identity and individuality.

  2. The body is a symbol of social status and hierarchy.

  3. The body is a site of social control and regulation.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body mediates the relationship between the individual and society in a number of ways. It is a source of identity and individuality, a symbol of social status and hierarchy, and a site of social control and regulation.

How does the body shape our experience of the world?

  1. The body influences our perception of the world.

  2. The body influences our emotions and feelings.

  3. The body influences our thoughts and beliefs.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body shapes our experience of the world in a number of ways. It influences our perception of the world, our emotions and feelings, and our thoughts and beliefs.

How is the body used to express social and cultural values?

  1. Through clothing and adornment

  2. Through body language and gestures

  3. Through rituals and ceremonies

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to express social and cultural values in a number of ways, including through clothing and adornment, body language and gestures, and rituals and ceremonies.

How is the body used to control and regulate social behavior?

  1. Through laws and regulations

  2. Through social norms and customs

  3. Through rituals and ceremonies

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to control and regulate social behavior in a number of ways, including through laws and regulations, social norms and customs, and rituals and ceremonies.

How is the body used to resist and subvert social norms and values?

  1. Through body modification

  2. Through body art

  3. Through performance art

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to resist and subvert social norms and values in a number of ways, including through body modification, body art, and performance art.

How is the body used to express and experience pleasure and enjoyment?

  1. Through sexual activity

  2. Through dance and movement

  3. Through music and art

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to express and experience pleasure and enjoyment in a number of ways, including through sexual activity, dance and movement, and music and art.

How is the body used to express and experience pain and suffering?

  1. Through illness and injury

  2. Through torture and abuse

  3. Through grief and loss

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to express and experience pain and suffering in a number of ways, including through illness and injury, torture and abuse, and grief and loss.

How is the body used to express and experience death and dying?

  1. Through funerals and mourning rituals

  2. Through art and literature

  3. Through religious beliefs and practices

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to express and experience death and dying in a number of ways, including through funerals and mourning rituals, art and literature, and religious beliefs and practices.

How is the body used to express and experience transcendence and spirituality?

  1. Through meditation and yoga

  2. Through prayer and religious rituals

  3. Through psychedelic drugs

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The body is used to express and experience transcendence and spirituality in a number of ways, including through meditation and yoga, prayer and religious rituals, and psychedelic drugs.

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