Topic: Voodoo
| Time | Days | Location | Instructor | GER | Credit | OPUS Class Number | Syllabus (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2:30pm-3:45pm | TuTh | Callaway Center N109 | Edna Bay. | HAP. | 4 | 13350 | TBA. |
Content: An inquiry into the world’s most maligned religious and cultural system, more properly called Vodou and Vodun, this three-part multidisciplinary course begins with the study of Vodou religious practice in Brooklyn , NY. It then moves to the cultures of Vodou in the Caribbean and particularly in Haiti. Issues considered include the character of selected deities or lwa, altars and sacred paraphernalia, healing traditions, possession and sacrifice, magic and sorcery, and the so-called syncretism of African and Catholic spirits. The second portion of the course explores the African roots and relatives of Vodou, with special attention to the Fon/Yoruba and Kongo cultural areas. The final third of the course considers the history of interaction between American and Haitian cultures, including the representation of Vodou in American popular culture.
Texts: Readings are drawn from the work of anthropologists, folklorists, historians, novelists, art historians, dancers, and religious specialists. Some of the major authors read include Karen McCarthy Brown, Maya Deren, Paul Farmer, Joan Dayan, and Donald Cosentino.
Particulars: Reading and writing assignments are heavy, and two projects are required. There is no final exam.
The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.