The In-Between of the In-Between: Liminality

The In-Between of the In-Between: Liminality

'Charles Bukowski' said, "If something burns your soul with purpose and desire, it's your duty to be reduced to ashes by it. Any other form of existence will be yet another dull book in the library of life." Throughout this statement, he advocates for living a life by embracing passion and rejecting mediocrity that can lead to personal transformation and growth. Further, he highly emphasized the need for courage and commitment in people's lives which enabled him to align his life philosophy. This concept regarding people's lives matches the idea of liminality in some points like embracing transformation, existential intensity, and navigating uncertainty. Throughout this article, I will try to explore the concept of liminality' from its origin to real-life implications. 

What is Liminality?

Liminality is a fascinating and complex concept that is developed in anthropology. Liminality refers to the quality of ambiguity or disorientation in a situation that individuals or groups face. This situation lies in the transitional phase between two distinct places or stages that the liminality talks about. This "situation or in-between" phase is very important for transformation and change in culture, society, and human life. It also offers a space for transformation where traditional norms and structures are temporarily neglected so that new things and possibilities can emerge. 

Understanding Liminality

Key motifs in liminality often depict an object that symbolizes passage in the literal or metaphorical context, such as a door or window. These images intermingle with transitionary spaces such as hallways, roads, or gas stations, these places that seem in between without a beginning, end, or final destination. Liminality only provides a series of transitionary sequences embodied by space, time, and interior feeling. These transitions guide the combination of a mismatched emotion to the next location, which turns into another threshold ad infinitum. Depending on the appearance of these destinations, they can give the person a sense of either existential anxiety or calm.

Origins and Theoretical Background

"Arnold Van Gennep" first introduced the term "liminality" in 1909 throughout his work "The Rites of Passage," which talked about three stages in ritual ceremonies such as separation, liminality, and incorporation. This term (liminality) comes from the Latin word "limen," which means threshold. "Victor Turner" expanded on this concept in the mid-20th century, emphasizing the importance of the liminal phase in cultural and social transformations.

According to Turner 'liminality' is a period of "betwixt and between" where self-understanding, behavior, and normal limits to thought are relaxed. He introduced the idea of "communitas," a sense of camaraderie and equality experienced during liminal phases, which can lead to profound personal and social changes.

Here are Some Situations that Depict the Picture of Liminality

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unforgettable chapter in our life who have to experience. This global pandemic did not just come with the coronavirus, it has created a global liminal space for everything that exists in this world. In a simple word, this was a big transition phase for the whole world in which normal life was disrupted, and societies were forced to adapt to new ways of living and working. "The Pandemic is a Portal" is the work of a renowned sociologist Arundhati Roy and he describes the pandemic as a 'portal.' He said, "This pandemic has forced human to break with the past and imagine their world anew." This period brought changes in work culture. For example, due to the restriction to stay home at that time, people were forced to work at home remotely, but now it becoming the norm in the work culture. This phase was full of uncertainty and ambiguity but it led to innovative solutions in various sectors, that represent the transformative potential of liminality. 

Adolescence

The liminal stage can be defined more clearly with 'adolescence' which talks about the transition from childhood to adulthood. In this transition period, people are experiencing significant physical, behavioral, emotional, and social changes. This liminal phase can also be called as foundation of identity development. The theory of psychosocial development by psychologist Erik Erikson also said that adolescence is a crucial time for identity exploration that encapsulates the essence of liminality. Further, the liminality can be defined with Gen X/Millennial/Gen Z expectations. From these three generations, the definition of liminality appears to be the physical and mental transition from one state of being to another, but never quite reaching the end of that state of being, which leads to a state of displacement that attempts to reorient itself to the comfortable feeling of the prior state.

Political Revolutions

Political revolutions are evidence of liminality because there can be a transition period where old regimes are dismantled, and new systems have yet to be fully published with new parties. These periods are marked by uncertainty but have the potential for significant social and political transformation. For example, during the revolutionary phase of the Arab Spring, several countries experienced profound changes. In "The Human Condition," philosopher Hannah Arendt discusses how revolutionary moments can create spaces for new forms of political and social organization, reflecting the liminal nature of such periods.

Importance of Liminality

As earlier mention, liminality is the quality of uncertainty and ambiguity that lies in a liminal space. This liminal space has a high potential for new developments and the reconfiguration of social norms and structures. Here some importance of liminality is explained briefly. 

Creativity and Innovation: Liminal space encourages creativity and innovation because in that time traditional norms, expectations, and structures are temporarily relaxed. This environment influences individuals, groups, and society to experience new ideas and approaches. COVID-19 is a testament to the rise of digital innovation. 

Personal Growth: The ambiguity and uncertainty with the liminal phase encourage individuals to develop new skills and perspectives that ensure greater resilience and self-awareness among them. 

Social and Cultural Transformation: Liminality enhances redefining societal norms and values that lead to more inclusive and equitable communities. The civil rights movements in the United States during the 1960s can be seen as a liminal period that led to significant changes in social and legal norms regarding race and equality.

Liminality can be defined as "The In-Between of the In-Between" that represents the transitional phases between two stages. This transition phase is very crucial for individuals, groups, and society to bring transformation in lifestyle, system, and norms.