Magic, Religion, & American Culture
HNRS 2020 Sec. 04 - Spring 2020
Instructor Kenny Paul Smith Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies
M
W
F
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
200 French House
What do Harry Potter, sports fandom, mind-body medicine, taking college exams, prosperity gospel, Star Wars, New Age spirituality, Game of Thrones, and the ways in which we think about contemporary political figures have in common? They each represent major features in America's magical landscape, which extends into nearly every aspect of contemporary society, and back into colonial, and indeed pre-colonial histories.
This course examines a variety of historical, sociological, anthropological, and psychological attempts to define, analyze, and compare magical beliefs, practices, and forms of social production across a variety of historical and cultural settings.
Fulfills General Education:
English Composition
Humanities
Social Sciences
