Esotericism and the Magical Tradition

Module title	Esotericism and the Magical Tradition
Module code	ARAM251
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Emily Selove ()

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	12

Module description

Esotericism and the Magical Tradition is a team-taught module, where you will explore topics related to the history of magic, occult, and esoteric literatures and traditions using an interdisciplinary approach by studying many different cultures and languages all in dialogue with one another.You will have the opportunity to learn with a range of scholars from different fields using a variety of methodologies and hailing from a number of departments, which may include anthropology, archaeology, classics, drama, film studies, English, Islamic Studies, modern languages, history, art history, history of science, sociology, and theology. It is designed for graduates who have no prior knowledge of the subject area, as well as for those graduates who would like to deepen their existing knowledge on the topic. The subject knowledge skills as well as personal and key skills are developed via readings, lectures, class discussion, group work, essays, and student presentations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In the seminars, you will be presented with cutting-edge research carried out by those actually giving the lectures. This module therefore arises out of the collaboration of colleagues across the university to study esotericism and the magical tradition from many different angles—an area in which Exeter has exceptional, internationally recognized expertise. This program will decolonise the study of esotericism and the magical tradition and place the Arabo-Islamic cultural heritage back where it belongs in the centre of these studies and in the history of the “West.”

Learning outcomes:

Enable students to specialize in the diverse field of Esotericism and the Magical Tradition, and thereby deepening their knowledge of key topics such as witchcraft, Western Esotericism, Occult texts in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, European folklore, magic in Greece and Rome, and the history of science and medicine.
Provide students with teaching led by cutting-edge research, and participate in a ground-breaking method by studying many different cultures and languages all in dialogue with one another.
Expose students to a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, including more innovative ones, which should assist students in becoming better academics as well as more competitive on the labour market.
Enable students to competently employ the traditional methodologies of their chosen field.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate extensive knowledge of key issues, critical themes, and concepts in Esotericism and the Magical Tradition
2. critically assess current research in the diverse field of Esotericism and the Magical Tradition.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. place issues in a wider perspective/context.
4. source primary and secondary data relevant to specific issue areas.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. think and work independently at an advanced level.
6. build and defend a sustained and sophisticated argument, both in written form and verbally, using complex primary and secondary materials (i.e. development of critical and analytical skills).

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

The history of medicine as it relates to magic.

The issues of Gender as they relate to the practice of magic.

Crime and persecution of those accused of the practice of magic (the “witchcraze”).

The importance of Arabic and Islamic texts to the development of “Western” science.

Decolonising Islamic thought.

Science, technology, and society.

The mystical and the political.

Material cultural evidence for the practise of magic.

Popular culture in 20^th century Africa.

Magic as literature, literature as magic.

Ritual and performance studies.

Embodied research practices.

Film studies.

Witchcraft and magic in ancient Greece and Rome.

Jewish magic and the Kabbalah.

Magic and witchcraft in the history of Europe.
Local traditions of magic in Devon and Cornwall

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	22	11x 2 Hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	42	Formative preparation
Guided Independent Study	136	Summative preparation and writing
Guided Independent Study	100	Weekly reading materials in preparation for seminars

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
oral presentation on a chosen reading	15 minutes	1-6	Oral and written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	100	4,000 words	1-6	Written and/or oral
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	Essay (4,000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Abela J, Agius DA, Borg M, Ciappara F, Dalli C, Lahlali EM, Muscat J, Schiro J, Zammit MR, Gauci, Liam, et al (eds)(2013). Georgio Scala and the Moorish Slaves. The Inquisition - Malta 1598. Malta, Midsea Books Ltd.

Barry J, Davies O, Usborne C (2017). Cultures of Witchcraft in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Present., Springer

Bhayro S, Rider C (2017). Demons and Illness from Antiquity to the Early-Modern Period. Leiden, Brill

Gibson, Marion (2007). Women and Witchcraft in Popular Literature c.1560-1715, Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007.

Insoll T (2012). Introduction: Ritual and Religion in Archaeological Perspective.

Keeler ARFOAAMESA, Rizvi SH, Rizvi APOIIHADOTIOAAISSH (2016). The Spirit and the Letter Approaches to the Esoteric Interpretation of the Qur'an., Oxford University Press, USA.

Ogden D (2002). Magic, witchcraft and ghosts in the Greek and Roman worlds: a sourcebook., Oxford University Press (USA)

Page S, Rider C (2019). The Routledge History of Medieval Magic., Routledge

Rappert B, Gould C (2018). The Dis-eases of Secrecy:. Tracing History, Memory, and Justice. Johannesburg, Jacanda.

Rider CR (2012). Magic and Religion in Medieval England. London, Reaktion Books

Sangha LS (In Press). The Social, Personal and Spiritual Dynamics of Ghost Stories in Early Modern England.

Savage-Smith, Emilie (2004).Magic and Divination in Early Islam. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing

Turner, Victor (1982). From Ritual to Theatre: The Human Seriousness of Play (1982)

Key words search

Magic, esotericism, mysticism, gnosticism, enchantment, re-enchantment,
embodied research, decolonising the curriculum, interdisciplinarity, islamic occultism

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	none
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	02/03/2020
Last revision date	15/06/2023