ANT 031: Shamanism and Witchcraft

What is shamanism? What is trance? What was the nature of the earliest human religion, and what will religion look like in the future? This new 2-unit course will introduce students to shamanism (and, to a lesser extent, witchcraft). We will look at how shamanism compares across societies, examine its psychological foundations and cultural evolution, probe its deep history, and seek to understand how elements of shamanism resonate in contemporary, industrialized societies. Along the way, students will develop a better understanding of comparative, evolutionary, and cognitive approaches to culture.

 

Photo of two members of the Mentawai Tribe during a ceremony

 

Course Description: GE credit: Social Sciences, World Cultures 

Prerequisite(s): None

Quarter(s): Winter 2025

Instructor(s): Manvir Singh