antistructure

antistructure

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From anti- +‎ structure, introduced by Victor Turner.

Pronunciation

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Noun

antistructure (countable and uncountable, plural antistructures)

  1. (sociology) A sociocultural structure that intentionally counteracts the mainstream.
    • 1983, Wendy Griswold, “The Devil's Techniques: Cultural Legitimation and Social Change”, in American Sociological Review[1], volume 48, number 5, page 669b–670a of 668–680:
      The narrative utility of the Trickster comes from his capacity to make possible the unexpected. He embodies the principle of anti-structure in that he escapes determination by established power relations, whereby for example, the fastest runner wins the race.

Translations