Call for Abstracts: A “Supernatural” History of Central Europe, 1870-Present
Call for Abstracts: “A ‘Supernatural’ History of Central Europe, 1870-present” Editors: Eric Kurlander (Stetson U.) and Monica Black (U. of Tenn., Knoxville) Deadline: August 1, 2012 Despite the ostensible “disenchantment of the world” proclaimed by Max Weber at the beginning of the twentieth century, Central Europe has a rich modern history of occultism, folklore, paganism, [...]
Ghost Images: Cinema of the Afterlife
Some recent research turned up a book title that I found helpful, Ghost Images: Cinema of the Afterlife by Tom Ruffles (McFarland, 2004). The back cover of the book describes Ruffles as a teacher in communication skills and film studies in the United Kingdom, but the promotional materials from the publisher indicate another interesting facet [...]
Cal Cooper: Telephone Calls From the Dead
A friend and colleague recently made me aware of a BBC News report about people allegedly receiving telephone calls and text messages from a deceased friend and family member. I was intrigued by this and my friend suggested I consult the work of Cal Cooper on the phenomenon. I tracked him down via the Internet [...]
Nova Religio Call for Papers: Paranormal, Religion, and Culture
Joseph Laycock has recently been given the privilege of guest editing a special issue of Nova Religio on the paranormal. In the last few years, several good books have appeared that consider so-called “paranormal” beliefs, discourses, and experiences as an object of inquiry for religion scholars. Like the category “religion,” the category “paranormal” is poorly [...]
Phantom Clowns, Bogus Social Workers, and Men in Black
Paul Meehan has been the focus of interviews here previously on the subject of UFOs and the paranormal in cinema. He has also contributed his own written articles from time to time, and below you will find his latest essay touching on phantom clowns [...]
Jeffrey Kripal Interview on Mutants & Mystics: Comics, Sci-Fi and the Paranormal
Jeffrey Kripal has returned to discuss his latest book addressing the esoteric and the paranormal in popular culture. In this case his new book is Mutants & Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal (University of Chicago Press, 2011). From the book’s description: In many ways, twentieth-century America was the land of superheroes and [...]
TheoFantastique Podcast: Erik Davis on Modern Esoterica in Popular Culture
TheoFantastique Podcast 2.3 is available, an interview with Erik Davis, author of Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica (YETI/Verse Chorus Press, 2010). Davis defines “modern esoterica” in his preface as “a no-man’s land located somewhere between anthropology and mystical pulp, between the zendo and the metal club, between cultural criticism and extraordinary experience, whether psychedelic, [...]
Exploring the Extraordinary 3rd Conference
Since its inception in 2007, members of Exploring the Extraordinary have organised two very successful academic conferences that have brought together researchers from a variety of different disciplines and backgrounds. The purpose of these events has been to encourage a wider dissemination of knowledge and research, and an interdisciplinary discussion of extraordinary phenomena and experience. [...]
Annette Hill: Paranormal Media
In my ongoing research into various facets of the paranormal in popular culture I have been fortunate to connect with some interesting people. One of the most recent is Annette Hill, author of Paranormal Media: Audiences, Spirits and Magic in Popular Culture (London and New York: Routledge, 2011). Paranormal Media offers a unique, timely exploration [...]
Paul Davids and The Strange Case of Forrest J. Ackerman
A while ago I came across an article online by Paul Davids from FATE magazine (Sep.-Oct. 2010) titled “THE ACKERMAN ENIGMA: The Strange Case of Forrest J. Ackerman.” The article brought together a number of elements of interest, from the late horror culture icon Forrest J. Ackerman to the paranormal. Since I had interacted with [...]
