Character Divination and Kinetic Sculpture in the Central Italian Passeggiata (Ritual Promenade): Interpretive Frameworks and Expressive Practices from a Body-Centered Perspective

This article explores the interplay of bodily practices and interpretive frameworks in folklore performance. A case study of the Italian passeggiata (ritual promenade), the essay shows how culturally specific beliefs about the relationship between character, sociability, and the body inform expressive behavior and its interpretation. Ideas from practice theory and performance studies illuminate the unique conditions under which individual bodily performances may come together to constitute complex representations of larger collectivities.