School of Sociology and Criminology  
 
 
SOC-20033 Witchcraft, Zombies and Social Anxiety  
Co-ordinator: Dr Jane Parish    Room: CBC0.011, Tel:34232  
Teaching Team: Ms Deborah  Tagg, Dr Andy  Zieleniec, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Miss Claire  Lewendon,  Garry  Crawford  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Sociology Dual Honours (Level 2)
Sociology Major (Level 2)
Sociology Minor (Level 2)
Sociology Single Honours (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
None
Description

The topic of the supernatural has received little attention from sociologists and is largely dismissed as a set of irrational and superstitious beliefs. This module centrally positions the supernatural and paranormal - ghosts, monsters, witches, vampires, werewolves and zombies in the sociological study of modernity, thus contributing to contemporary debates about the transparency of social forces in a global economy and the secularisation of society. In the global economy, supernatural commentaries thrive and have become a symbol of the destructive effects of capitalism. In other words, occult practices crystallise social conflicts in the modern world. For example in early modern Europe and in Salem, witchcraft accusations encapsulated the inequality that obtains between rural and urban regions, gender and socio-economic status. In the global economy anxieties reverberate about the theft of childrens&© organs and ritual murder reflecting concerns about child trafficking and migration. Meanwhile, in Europe and the United States, allegations about the satanic abuse of children refuse to disappear as newspaper reports multiply about child abductions and horrific serial killers. Likewise, the media is obsessed with vampires and, now, zombies and horror stories and movies about the walking dead reverberate around the world.

The key theme of this course is that supernatural discourses represent a distinctive way of articulating fears about the increased uncertainty found in everyday life and the insecurities of the global economy.

In essence therefore, the course looks at the ways in which supernatural and occult discourses throw light on the very different ways in which we live our lives.




The lectures will focus on
Understanding Witchcraft and Monsters in a Global Society
The Witches' Sabbath: Early Modern European Witchcraft and Salem
Superstition, Religion and Science
Occultism and Risk
African Witchcraft and Modernity
Revision Session - poster and examination question/answer session
Zombies and Globalisation: The Malcontents of Modernity
The Supernatural: Commodification, Conspiracy and the Occult
Witches, Vampires and Female Sexuality
Conclusion: Witchcraft, Anxiety and Social Change; feedback on posters

Formative Assessment and Seminar Activities
Students on the module will be required to complete a range of different tasks in preparation for and during the seminars. Some of these will require individual reporting based on prior reading and some of these will require group working and discussion on key topics/issues set in class by the tutor.

Group work - thinking monsters and witchcraft
DVD screening on Early European witchcraft. Students asked to present in week 3 key factors behind Salem witchhunts (group work)
Salem presentations. Group work on symbolism of superstition and the significance of ritual.
DVD screening on satanism and child abuse in USA. Group work on key factors behind scapegoating.
Group work on African witchcraft and on key digitalised readings on witchcraft in Nigeria
Discussion on posters/revision - question and answer - reexamination of key topics covered so far; preparation for handing in of posters week 7/8
Group work on metaphor of zombie and world recession; group work on the transparancy of capitalism; Internet presentation on illicit global trade in body parts (Berkeley University web site)
Screening of X-Files montage; group discussion of the conspiracy through film/television
Screening of vampire montage; group discussion on Dracula and female sexuality
Conclusion - group feedback on posters/Individual feedback
Aims
  • To encourage students to think about witchcraft and the occult in a global setting
  • To extend students understanding of key sociological concepts such as modernity, risk and secularisation
  • To enhance students ability to link concepts and evidence in social science and within a cross-cultural comparative framework
  • To enable students to understand the significance of occult discourses in highlighting global inequalities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to
  • articulate knowledge of processes of modernity and how these processes have developed in a historical and cross-cultural context
  • recognise the different factors shaping globalisation
  • demonstrate the ability to relate key concerns of sociology such as inequality risk and power to processes of modernity and capitalism in different parts of the world
  • understand the place of occult discourses in explaining social change, anxiety and progress
  • critically analyse how occult discourses highlight the impact on local economies of globalisation/capitalism
  • employ concepts and theories to analyse events beyond their original context
  • communicate ideas, theories and knowledge about religious/occult discourses in written form
Study hours
20 contact hours (2 hour weekly seminar)
60 hours tutorial preparation
70 hours assessment preparation
Description of Module Assessment
01: 2 Hour Exam weighted 60%
Students complete a 2 hour unseen examination choosing to answer 2 questions from a list of 8
Students are required to answer 2 questions from a list of 8
02: Creative Brief weighted 40%
Students complete a poster on a chosen topic from course to be handed in week 7/8
Students complete a poster on a topic of their choice from the course. The poster consists of 4 sides of A4 sized sheets in printed form. Note that you cannot use video/audio material or material on disk as part of your submission. The poster is marked on five central criteria:Integration and organisation of the material; Visual and intellectual impact;Clarity; A good balance between analysis and substantive information; Level of critical discussion

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.