This edited volume opens new approaches to lament research by analysing the intersections between ideologies and lament traditions, providing advancements in methodologies and the knowledge of domains that emerge at this intersection.
In his book, laments are mainly discussed as a form of verbal art that conveys strong emotions, while ideology is regarded as broad and flexible, including not only formal systems but also more informal, unconscious models of thinking that shape people's approaches, interpretations, discussions, and practices of laments.
The book offers a multidisciplinary, multicultural view on laments, drawing from folklore studies, ethnomusicology, history, anthropology, and religious studies, covering regions from Northern Europe to indigenous cultures in Venezuela.