Upper Division Undergrad Course - Senior Seminar - "Magick, Spiritualism, and Media History" (original) (raw)

Course Objectives: This class examines the relationships between communications technologies (telegraph, wireless, photography, radio, audio recordings, films, television) and occult belief systems in the United States and in Europe from the mid-19th Century onward. It is focused primarily on the history of cinema and the history of video and audio recordings in regard to Spiritualist religious practice and belief, and the practice of witchcraft, though other avenues will come up and explored throughout the semester to a certain extent. The course is historically oriented, drawing on the historical record, primary documents, secondary reportage, scholarly examinations of media history, and films, television shows, comics, and video games which interact with that history. We will spend the semester examining media as a possibly evil entity, and one which is capable of performing magick and interacting directly with the supernatural. Content Note: This course will feature films, television shows, video games, and comic books which may be disturbing and potentially controversial social, political, and religious content. They may also include profanity, nudity, and/or other issues that may be contrary to some personal beliefs. If you object to watching and/or discussing such material, you should consider withdrawing from the course. There is no alternative to the assigned screenings and other activities possible.