Case Studies
T. Riccio
Routledge eBooks June 15, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781003686422-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that three immersive Dallas performances by the Dead White Zombies collective demonstrate how indigenous ritual patterns can be adapted to urban contexts, transforming audiences into initiates who experience "cosmocentric place-making." The works drew respectively on Dogon mask rituals, divination and peripheral perception, and Miao ancestral practices with kundalini symbolism. |
Abstract
This section documents three immersive performances by the Dead White Zombies collective in Dallas, demonstrating the book&s;s methodologies in practice. (W)hole transformed a 32,000-square-foot industrial building into a meditation on death and afterlife, inspired by Dogon mask rituals witnessed in Burkina Faso. kaRaoKe MoTeL explored rebirth through a former icehouse, using ritual structure, divination, and peripheral perception to create personalized meaning. Holy Bone created a walking meditation across five West Dallas venues, drawing on Miao ancestral practices and kundalini symbolism. Together, these works illustrate how indigenous ritual patterns can be adapted to urban contexts, transforming audiences into initiates who experience cosmocentric place-making.