Special Topics In History I

AY2023/2024 Semester 1

Miracles, ghosts, demons, witches, and aliens - these are part of our everyday experience, whether through firsthand accounts of encounters or stories passed on by friends or acquaintances. How do we make sense of these ideas, personalities, and beliefs in both the past and present? This interdisciplinary study explores how historians have shifted their focus toward such phenomena over an extended period and seeks to introduce students to a variety of approaches and perspectives toward the following questions: Over time, how have definitions and reinterpretations of "supernatural" and "paranormal" concepts evolved? How do these concepts intersect with various aspects of human history, including religion, philosophy, governance, environmental changes, and health? How did historical actors approach the task of reconciling their perspectives on the supernatural and paranormal with their personal beliefs within the context of their communities? Why do notions of the supernatural and paranormal persist in contemporary times, and how have they undergone restructuring and recontextualization? By the course's end, students will be acquainted with key figures, historiography, and methodologies from various specialist schools of history, encompassing science, religion and gender, as well as related fields such as folklore studies, sociology, and cultural anthropology.