Witch-Hunts and Persecution
by Dr Nicholas Herriman
October 10, 2013 5:25 pm
In this course, we will use the anthropological approach and methodology to understand witch-hunts and persecution. We start by looking at magic, witchcraft and sorcery and explaining the persistence of related beliefs and practices. As we will see the basic idea of witch persecution is that we have an image of a witch (or sorcerer) and then we pin it on someone. We analyze this image in greater detail. Pinning this image on someone is a process of accusation; we analyze among whom, why and how accusations occur. Finally, we look at some “witch-hunts”—including the Great Witch-hunt, the Salem Trials, and McCarthyism—in greater detail.
Recent Episodes
Witch-Hunts and Revitalization
11 years agoAccusations: Directions of Witchcraft Accusations
11 years agoAccusations: Who Gets Accused?
11 years agoAccusations: Gossip
11 years agoCannibal Mothers
11 years agoPrimordial Characters
11 years agoNightmare Witches
11 years agoIndonesian Witch-Hunts
11 years agoAfrican Witch-Finding Movements
11 years agoSalem and McCarthyism
11 years ago