Special Panel on Preternatural Undeath in Esotericism, Occultism, and Magic at Southwest Popular/American Culture Association, Feb 19-22, Albuquerque, New Mexico

This special panel invites presentation proposals examining esoteric, occult, and magical perspectives on, and engagement with, the undead - particularly in the context of the significance of such conceptions in popular culture, whether historical or contemporary. The wide variation in beliefs concerning death, the dead, and the afterlife has afforded diversity in related ideas concerning their accessibility and proximity to the living, while patterns consistent to worldviews characterized by esoteric, occult, magical, and preternatural elements continue to emerge in their particular approaches to phenomena associated with the lingering, restless, and persistent post-mortem. This panel seeks to investigate approaches to the undead that are particular to these worldviews, including but not limited to necromancy and other magical endeavors, haunting, spectral manifestation, channeling, possession, automatism, seances, trance, ritual operations, vampirism, psychic research, paranormal investigation, and manifold combinations of specific beliefs and practices. Proposals focusing directly on praxis are welcome, as are proposals that address the representation, reception, and impact of these conceptions within popular culture broadly, as well as specific arenas such as entertainment media, journalism, paranormal and fringe phenomena, spiritual movements, local legendaria, and popular ideas of the afterlife and postmortem continuity.

To propose a paper for this panel, for further information about the conference Area, and to request the main Area CFP, please contact the Area Chair, Dr. George J. Sieg, at [email protected] as soon as possible - the final proposal deadline is November 14.