Morgan Creekmore- Communitas

Turner describes communitas as "unmediated communication, even communion" but I think communion has a very important role in communitas. Hunger and food are the primal experiences people share ion the trail and in literature communion is one of the higher forms of close communication between characters. When people eat together, it's almost impossible not to share more than food. Food is also vital to health, so when you share food with others you are sharing life and trusting them that they won't poison your food in any way. Communitas is an "essential and generic human bond" and food is an ancient means of celebration and communication. All throughout history, people have been using food to form communities and traditions. As many times as Dr. Redick has told us about peanut butter and ice cream eating contests, I think he would agree that communion is not only essential to the Trail but also essential to communitas.