Transgression: A History of Magic

In an age of science, reason, and empiricism, how do we understand thriving beliefs in the supernatural and the occult? What is the history of the relationship between the supernatural, structures of power, and acts of transgression? To explore this terrain in the past and at present, we will draw upon theoretical works, histories, and anthropological studies focusing on supernatural actors--witches, vampires, jinns, and yoginis--from around the world. We will turn attention to the emotional states and regimes of power generated by encounters with supernature--fear, wonder, and reverence--in early modern and modern lifeworlds and cultures.