This course provides a survey of the supernatural, superhuman, and paranormal in popular culture, focusing on non-institutionalized forms of religious thought and practice as well as in the popular media (comic books, movies, music, fantasy and science fiction novels, television). Topics may include phenomena such as divination, ghosts, and speaking with the dead as well as fascination with apocalypses, superheroes, time travel, vampires, and zombies. Emphasis will be given to religious expressions not usually recognized as "religious." [3 credits]
This course provides a survey of the supernatural, superhuman, and paranormal in popular culture, focusing on non-institutionalized forms of religious thought and practice as well as in the popular media (comic books, movies, music, fantasy and science fiction novels, television). Topics may include phenomena such as divination, ghosts, and speaking with the dead as well as fascination with apocalypses, superheroes, time travel, vampires, and zombies. Emphasis will be given to religious expressions not usually recognized as "religious." [3 credits]
