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J. David Knottnerus compares failed and successful polar expeditions in terms of participation in ritual practices and the psychological health of crews, finding that work practices, religious activities, games, parties are all extremely important in increasing crewmembers' ability to cope with severe challenges.
List of contents
1. Introduction: Expeditions and Rituals
2. Ritual Theory and Methodology: Life on Polar Expeditions
3. Failed Expeditions, by J. David Knottnerus, Kevin Johnson, and James D. Mason
The Grinnell Voyage: A Troubled Search for the Franklin Expedition
The Grinnell Expedition to Polar Greenland: Discord at Sea
The Jeanette's Search for the North Pole: A Tragic Venture
The Karluk Mission in the Northern Seas: An Arctic Disaster
A Russian Expedition to Siberia: Life and Death in the Arctic
The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition: Discord and Loss in the Arctic
The Polaris Expedition to the North Pole: A Recipe for Failure
The Belgica Expedition in Antarctica: Amundsen’s Account of a Flawed Mission
The HMS Enterprise in Search of the John Franklin: Conflicts of Authority and Ritual Failure
4. Successful Expeditions, by J. David Knottnerus, Kevin Johnson, and James D. Mason
The Voyage of the Isabel in Pursuit of the John Franklin: A Successful Journey to Greenland
A Land Journey in the North: The Team of Haig-Thomas and Nookap
A Quest for the South Pole: The Tragedy and Triumph of the Scott Expedition
First to the North Pole: Henson's Account of the Peary Expedition
Research in Antarctica: A Mid-Twentieth Century British Expedition
Science in Antarctica: A Mid-Twentieth Century American Expedition
5. Highly Successful Expeditions, by J. David Knottnerus, Kevin Johnson, and James D. Mason
The Discovery of the Northwest Passage: The Trials of the M’Clure Expedition
Heard Island, Antarctica: A Mid-Twentieth Century Australian Expedition
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition: Shackleton's Challenge
A Late Nineteenth Century Arctic Expedition: Nansen and the Fram
6. Conclusion
About the author
J. David Knottnerus is Emeritus Regents Professor of Sociology at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. He has published extensively in the areas of ritual dynamics, social theory, social psychology, group processes, social structure, and social inequality. Much of his work in recent years has focused on the development of structural ritualization theory and research, which analyzes the role rituals play in social life.
Summary
J. David Knottnerus compares failed and successful polar expeditions in terms of participation in ritual practices and the psychological health of crews, finding that work practices, religious activities, games, parties are all extremely important in increasing crewmembers’ ability to cope with severe challenges.
