The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History

by Dennis Waskul (Editor), Marc Eaton (Editor)

Overview

In the twenty-first century, as in centuries past, stories of the supernatural thrill and terrify us. But despite their popularity, scholars often dismiss such beliefs in the uncanny as inconsequential, or even embarrassing. The editors and contributors to The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History have made a concerted effort to understand encounters with ghosts and the supernatural that have remain present and flourished. Featuring folkloric researchers examining the cultural value of such beliefs and practices, sociologists who acknowledge the social and historical value of the supernatural, and enthusiasts of the mystical and uncanny, this volume includes a variety of experts and interested observers using first-hand ethnographic experiences and historical records.

The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History seeks to understand the socio-cultural and socio-historical contexts of the supernatural. This volume takes the supernatural as real because belief in it has fundamentally shaped human history. It continues to inform people’s interpretations, actions, and identities on a daily basis. The supernatural is an indelible part of our social world that deserves sincere scholarly attention. 

Contributors include: Janet Baldwin, I'Nasah Crockett, William Ryan Force, Rachael Ironside, Tea Krulos, Joseph Laycock, Stephen L. Muzzatti, Scott Scribner, Emma Smith, Jeannie Banks Thomas, and the editors

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439915240
Publisher:	Temple University Press
Publication date:	07/27/2018
Edition description:	1
Pages:	262
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Dennis Waskul is a Professor of Sociology and Distinguished Faculty Scholar at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and former president of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction. He has auDthored, co-authored, or edited a variety of books, including Ghostly Encounters: The Hauntings of Everyday Life (with Michele Waskul); Body/Embodiment (with Phillip Vannini); The Senses in Self, Society, and Culture (with Phillip Vannini and Simon Gottschalk); and Popular Culture as Everyday Life (edited with Phillip Vannini).  Marc Eaton is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Ripon College, in Wisconsin.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History Dennis Waskul Marc Eaton 1

1 Toward a Cryptoscience William Ryan Force 18

2 On Researching the Supernatural: Cultural Competence and Cape Breton Stories Jeannie Banks Thomas 35

3 Ghosts and Hauntings: Genres, Forms, and Types Dennis Waskul 54

4 Paranormal Investigation: The Scientist and the Sensitive Marc Eaton 76

5 The Allure of Dark Tourism: Legend Tripping and Ghost Seeking in Dark Places Rachael Ironside 95

6 "The Spirits Tell Me That You're Seeking Help": Fortune-Telling in Late Capitalism Stephen L. Muzzatti Emma M. Smith 116

7 Reading Tarot: Telling Fortunes, Telling Friends, and Retelling Everyday Life Janet Baldwin 136

8 Twentieth-Century Voodoo: Black Culture, Cultural Geographies, and the Meaning of Place I'Nasah Crockett 152

9 Vampirism: Modern Vampires and Embattled Identity Claims Joseph P. Laycock 171

10 Cryptozoology: The Hunt for Hidden Animals and Monsters Tea Krulos 190

11 Alien Abduction Narratives: A Proposed Model and Brief Case Study Scott R. Scribner 210

Contributors 233

Index 237

Editorial Reviews

"In their edited volume, Dennis Waskul and Marc Eaton collect efforts to understand the social and cultural implications of supernatural beliefs and experiences.... Most of the essayists profess an agnostic view of belief in the supernatural, which gives their findings more authoritative heft as none of the authors come off as proponents or detractors. Nor does the text demand the reader’s belief or disbelief in the supernatural—again, this is not the aim—asking instead that the reader consider the social and cultural implications for believers and communities. Each author’s writing is clear and engaging, and the chapters are often very enjoyable."—Teaching Sociology

From the Publisher