Course syllabus
Welcome to the Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion
Here, you can obtain general information about the course, such as syllabus, reading list and schedule.
- Syllabus (enter the course code RT2413 in the search box)
- Reading List
- Schedule - The schedule is only for students who will attend the campus course. The online course starts on Canvas on the same date as the campus course, according to the schedule. You will then find information from the teacher.
When you are a registered student you will have access to further information related to the course.
You will find information about the Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion on our web site www.lir.gu.se
RT2413 • Occultism and Modernity
Autumn 2019
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Professor Dr. Henrik Bogdan Office: Bengt Lidnersgatan 7, floor 3. Email: henrik.bogdan@lir.gu.se Office Hours: By appointment only. |
Time and Place
For Campus students: Thursday, 13:15-15:00. Bengt Lidnersgatan 7 (room 112). For online students: Canvas.
Course Description
This course offers students an introduction to the academic study of Western esotericism, a relatively new field of research which covers a wide range of currents and practices such as magic, astrology and alchemy. The course will focus on modern forms of esotericism from 19th century Theosophy to esoteric New Religious Movements such as the modern Witchcraft movement (Wicca), Satanism and the New Age Movement. More specifically, the course will consider how esoteric practitioners responded to major changes in Western religion and spirituality due to the processes of modernity and secularization. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the major theoretical approaches to the study of Western esotericism and be familiar with several forms of modern esotericism.
General Information
Teaching will take place through one introductory lecture on campus – the PowerPoint will be available online – and four obligatory seminars for campus students and corresponding four online discussions for online students. Online students are required to post at least one comment on the required reading (length ca. 200 words) for each seminar discussion, in addition to two responses to your fellow students’ comments for each seminar discussion. The seminar discussions on Canvas will run for two weeks each, apart from the final discussion which will run for one week only.
Lively discussions, while decent and respectful, in the discussion fora are encouraged. The teacher will regularly check the discussions and write comments, when needed.
Online students are welcome to attend the lecture and seminars, and campus students are welcome to take part in online discussions.
Campus students who fail to attend a seminar need to submit a 1-page text, discussing the literature of the seminar in question. Email the text to the teacher.
Required Texts
The required readings will be available online through Canvas, under "Files".
Course Goals
After completion of the course, the students are expected to:
Knowledge and understanding
• Be able to account for key theories about and definitions of Western esotericism
• Be able to account for the history of Western esoterism from the Nineteenth Century to late modern times
Skills and abilities
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze key aspects of Western esotericism from the Nineteenth Century to late modern times
• Critically be able to interpret and evaluate discourses about esotericism from the Nineteenth Century to late modern times
Exam
Students are expected to complete a final exam, which will include essay questions that cover the readings and discussions in class/online. Exam essays will require that you reflect on your position regarding various topics and also that you provide evidence and reasoned argument in support of that position. In these essays I expect much more than summaries and unsubstantiated opinions.
Additional Information
Class Participation: This course requires active participation from all students. The class is organized around discussions of course materials (scholarly articles, etc.). Students are expected to study all materials BEFORE each class session and to participate in the discussion by sharing their reasoned views on the topic. Students will be graded based on the amount and quality of their in-class participation.
Honesty. Please pursue rigorous honesty in everything you do, including your work for this class. It will serve you well in life, and in this class as well since we report all cases of suspected academic dishonest to the head of the department.
Use of E-Mail for Official Correspondence to Students. E-mail is recognized as an official mode of university correspondence; therefore, you are responsible for reading your e-mail for university and course-related information and announcements. You are responsible to keep the university informed about changes to your e-mail address. You should check your e-mail regularly and frequently—we recommend daily, but at minimum twice a week—to stay current with university-related communications, some of which may be time-critical.
Use of Canvas in Class. In this class we use Canvas—a Web-based course management system with password-protected access—to distribute course materials, to communicate and collaborate online, etc.
Problems or Criticism. If you don’t understand something about the course or if you have specific points of criticism, do not hesitate to get in contact with me directly. If I don’t hear about the problems, I have no chance of addressing them.
Course summary:
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