AFST 20750 - Witchcraft and Magic in the Contemporary World

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

Africana Studies

Description:

Witchcraft and the ritualistic use of magic for shaping the future and controlling the present have been a part of human development from the earliest times. The advent of science and technology has only modified or altered the role and significance of witchcraft in contemporary societies, as witchcraft and magic services and their providers have gone online. Anthropological studies on witchcraft in contemporary societies have pointed out the relationship between the development of witchcraft and the prevailing economy, politics, public health, culture and the environment. This course will explore the role and evolution of witchcraft in modern societies of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Through assigned readings, in-class discussions, movies, documentaries, and ethnographic projects, we will seek to understand why witchcraft and magic and associated beliefs are universal phenomena in human societies and how these practices themselves adapt to the changing world.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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