The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History
eBook - PDF

The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History

  1. English
  2. PDF
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History

About this book

In the twenty-first century, as in centuries past, stories of the supernatural thrill and terrify us. But despite their popularity, scholars often dismiss such beliefs in the uncanny as inconsequential, or even embarrassing. The editors and contributors to The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History have made a concerted effort to understand encounters with ghosts and the supernatural that have remain present and flourished. Featuring folkloric researchers examining the cultural value of such beliefs and practices, sociologists who acknowledge the social and historical value of the supernatural, and enthusiasts of the mystical and uncanny, this volume includes a variety of experts and interested observers using first-hand ethnographic experiences and historical records.

The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History seeks to understand the socio-cultural and socio-historical contexts of the supernatural. This volume takes the supernatural as real because belief in it has fundamentally shaped human history. It continues to inform people's interpretations, actions, and identities on a daily basis. The supernatural is an indelible part of our social world that deserves sincere scholarly attention. 

Contributors include: Janet Baldwin, I'Nasah Crockett, William Ryan Force, Rachael Ironside, Tea Krulos, Joseph Laycock, Stephen L. Muzzatti, Scott Scribner, Emma Smith, Jeannie Banks Thomas, and the editors

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription.
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn more here.
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
  • Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
  • Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Both plans are available with monthly, semester, or annual billing cycles.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1 million books across 1000+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn more here.
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more here.
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS or Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History by Dennis Waskul, Marc Eaton, Dennis Waskul,Marc Eaton in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Cultural & Social Anthropology. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Contents
  2. Introduction: The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History / Dennis Waskul and Marc Eaton
  3. 1. Toward a Cryptoscience / William Ryan Force
  4. 2. On Researching the Supernatural: Cultural Competence and Cape Breton Stories / Jeannie Banks Thomas
  5. 3. Ghosts and Hauntings: Genres, Forms, and Types / Dennis Waskul
  6. 4. Paranormal Investigation: The Scientist and the Sensitive / Marc Eaton
  7. 5. The Allure of Dark Tourism: Legend Tripping and Ghost Seeking in Dark Places / Rachael Ironside
  8. 6. "The Spirits Tell Me That You’re Seeking Help": Fortune-Telling in Late Capitalism / Stephen L. Muzzatti and Emma M. Smith
  9. 7. Reading Tarot: Telling Fortunes, Telling Friends, and Retelling Everyday Life / Janet Baldwin
  10. 8. Twentieth-Century Voodoo: Black Culture, Cultural Geographies, and the Meaning of Place / I’Nasah Crockett
  11. 9. Vampirism: Modern Vampires and Embattled Identity Claims / Joseph P. Laycock
  12. 10. Cryptozoology: The Hunt for Hidden Animals and Monsters / Tea Krulos
  13. 11. Alien Abduction Narratives: A Proposed Model and Brief Case Study / Scott R. Scribner
  14. Contributors
  15. Index