ANTHR 215H - Magic, Myth and Ritual - Honors

This course presents a cross-cultural study of various beliefs surrounding the supernatural world and associated rituals in various societies of Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, native North America and elsewhere. The emphasis of the course is on understanding beliefs and rituals within their social contexts and on broad comparison to derive insight into the general functions of belief and rituals in human societies. Using anthropological theory, the course will explore the roles of mythology, ritual specialists, magic, witchcraft, and ritualized behavior to expose students to the variability of ideological belief around the world form the strange to the familiar.

Prerequisites: ENG 101 - Writing and Research