Contemporary Korean Shamanism : From Ritual to Digital / Liora Sarfati
Material type:
TextPublication details: USA : Indiana University Press, 2021. Description: xiii, 210 pages color illustration 23 cmISBN: 9780253057174; 9780253057167; 9780253057198 eBookSubject(s): Shamanism -- Korea (South) | Religion and sociology -- History -- 21st century -- Korea (South)Other classification: BL2236.S5 S27 2021 Summary: Once viewed as an embarrassing superstition, the theatrical religious performances of Korean shamans—who communicate with the dead, divine the future, and become possessed—are going mainstream. Attitudes toward Korean shamanism are changing as shamanic traditions appear in staged rituals, museums, films, and television programs, as well as on the internet.
Contemporary Korean Shamanism explores this vernacular religion and practice, which includes sensory rituals using laden altars, ecstatic dance, and animal sacrifice, within South Korea's hypertechnologized society, where over 200,000 shamans are listed in professional organizations. Liora Sarfati reveals how representations of shamanism in national, commercialized, and screen-mediated settings have transformed opinions of these religious practitioners and their rituals.
Applying ethnography and folklore research, Contemporary Korean Shamanism maps this shift in perception about shamanism—from a sign of a backward, undeveloped Korea to a valuable, indigenous cultural asset.
| Item type | Current library | Call number | Status | Notes | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korea Corner
|
Universiti Teknologi Brunei Library - at level 1 | BL2236.S5 S27 LIO 2021 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | Reg.no.017383(H)_UTB | 903167 |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Once viewed as an embarrassing superstition, the theatrical religious performances of Korean shamans—who communicate with the dead, divine the future, and become possessed—are going mainstream. Attitudes toward Korean shamanism are changing as shamanic traditions appear in staged rituals, museums, films, and television programs, as well as on the internet.
Contemporary Korean Shamanism explores this vernacular religion and practice, which includes sensory rituals using laden altars, ecstatic dance, and animal sacrifice, within South Korea's hypertechnologized society, where over 200,000 shamans are listed in professional organizations. Liora Sarfati reveals how representations of shamanism in national, commercialized, and screen-mediated settings have transformed opinions of these religious practitioners and their rituals.
Applying ethnography and folklore research, Contemporary Korean Shamanism maps this shift in perception about shamanism—from a sign of a backward, undeveloped Korea to a valuable, indigenous cultural asset.
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