RLBcB600 Magic and Witchcraft in Anthropological Perspective

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Tatiana Bužeková, PhD. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 14. 3. 10:00–13:40 C33, Fri 21. 3. 10:00–13:40 C33, Fri 28. 3. 10:00–13:40 C33, Fri 4. 4. 10:00–13:40 C33, Fri 11. 4. 10:00–13:40 C33
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the socio-cultural contexts of ideas and practices associated with the concepts of magic and witchcraft. Students will learn key concepts and relevant anthropological theories in this field and will be able to apply their knowledge to understand human behaviour in relation to the notions of magic and witchcraft in different societies.
Learning outcomes
At the couse completion the student will be able to:
- orient oneself in the theme of magic and witchcraft from anthropological perspectives
- use proper terminology
- understand the development of scholarly discourses on related topics
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: Terms and debates
  • 2. Magic, witchcraft and religion
  • 3. Ethnographies of witchcraft in non-Western societies
  • 4. Magic, religion and altered states of consciousness
  • 5. Shamanism
  • 6. Witchcraft and possession as cultural syndromes
  • 7. The Great Hunt
  • 8. Witchcraft beliefs in folk tradition
  • 9. Witchcraft and alternative spirituality
  • 10. Gender aspects of witchcraft
  • 11. Witchcraft in popular culture
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BUŽEKOVÁ, Tatiana. Mágia a čarodejníctvo v etnografických štúdiách do polovice 20. storočia. Bratislava: Akamedia, 2019.
  • DOUGLAS, Mary (ed.). Witchcraft Confessions and Accusations. London: Tavistock, 1970.
  • FRAZER, James G. Zlatá ratolest. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1994.
  • STEWART, Pamela, STRATHERN, Andrew (eds.). Witchcraft, Sorcery, Rumors and Gossip. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussions, homework, reading
Assessment methods
The course may be completed in two different modes, the students are asked to chose according to their preferences one type of fullfilement:
A) pass (zápočet, 4 ECTS) - a written test in the exam period.
B) colloquim (kolokvium, 5 ECTS) - a written test in the exam period and an essay submitted at the end of the semester.
Essay
The essay must convey the main argument of the author of the text and the student's own reflections/observations. The student must link the text to relevant academic literature. The length of the text is 4 to 6 norm pages (1 standard page = 1800 characters with spaces). The summary must include a list of references and in-text citations (minimum 3 citations of minimum 3 scholarly works other than the analysed text). Wikipedia, popular literature and similar sources of information do not count as scholarly titles, although the student may use them (in which case they must cite them).
Structure of the essay (obligatory)
1. Author, year, title, publication details of the analysed text
2. A topic/research question addressed by the author of the analysed text
3. Author's argument and conclusions/results
4. References to other scholarly texts (min. 3 citations)
a. Differences/similarities in argumentation of all cited authors
b. A student’s interpretation of these differences/similarities
5. Empirical examples contradicting and/or supporting the author’s argument
6. At least one question related to the argument of the author of the analysed text
7. The student’s reflection on their own experience related to the topic of the analysed text (optional)
Violation of academic ethics will be penalized, and the student will lose all points earned in the respective assessment.
Absences shall be taken into account according to the Masaryk University Study and Examination Regulations (https://www.muni.cz/en/about-us/official-notice-board/mu-study-and-examination-regulations).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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