SLFK 2130 - Magic Acts

Because associative thinking is often done outside of awareness, this course seeks to make it conscious by looking at magic practices in cultures different from our own. Specifically, students will examine east Slavic (Russian and Ukrainian) magic in its various forms. They will then look at phenomena closer to our own culture. Experimentation is part of this course. Its purpose will not be to ascertain whether magic ‘works.’ It will try to determine, and then describe, how associative thinking works and how people feel when they use this type of thinking.

Credits: 3