HAITIAN VOODOO RELIGION

RELG 2030.52

FALL (II) 2001

Bob Corbett, instructor

Meets: 6-10 PM Tuesday evenings.

BELOW YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON:

As you can see, the syllabus is not yet complete. However, the daily schedule (left column) is worked out in detail. I just have to detail the work and reading expectations. That's coming soon.

Date General Class ActivityClass Assignments and Expectations
Tues Oct. 30 General introduction to the course and to both Haiti and Haitian Voodoo 1A General introduction to the course and to both Haiti and Haitian Voodoo
Tues Oct. 30 Film: Waters of Sorrow. Documentary by Jacques Cousteau 1B Film: Waters of Sorrow. Documentary by Jacques Cousteau
Tues Oct. 30 Conclusion of general introduction and discussion of the Cousteau film 1C Conclusion of general introduction and discussion of the Cousteau film
Tues Nov. 6 Discussion of Corbett's paper: Introduction to Haitian Voodoo 2A Read Corbett's paper: Introduction to Haitian Voodoo. Turn in assignment 1 which asks questions about the reading.
Tues Nov. 6 Film: Dreams of Democracy. Documentary by Jonathan Demme. 2B Watch Demme film.
Tues Nov. 6 Conclusion of discussion of Corbett's paper, discussion of the Demme film and discussion of Corbett's second paper. 2C Read Corbett's paper: Why is Haiti So Poor?. Turn in assignment 2 which asks questions about the reading.
Tues Nov. 13 Voodoo and Christianity: The Syncretism with Roman Catholicism 3A Read: Short list of lwa, also read The short paper on historical notes about Haitian Voodoo
Tues Nov. 13 Two films: Michele and Haitian Pilgrimage 3B Also read A list of the Catholic saints who match Haitian lwa There is now an added reading on Islamic Influences on Voodoo  But no writing on that paper.
Tues Nov. 13 Voodoo and Christianity: Catholicism concluded and The Protestants since 1980. 3C Assignment due on readings: Question of today's readings.
Tues Nov. 20 Voodoo and Healing: Discussion of Bonnie Thomas-Stevenson paper and Paul Brodwin thesis 4A Read: Bonnie Thomas-Stevenson paper The written assignments for all three readings for tonightQuestions of today's readings.
Tues Nov. 20 Two films: Black Dawn and To Serve the Gods 4B Also read: Bob Corbett's review of Paul Brodwin's book.
Tues Nov. 20 The Spelling of the name of the Haitian religion. 4C Read: Bob Corbett's essay on the spelling of Voodoo.
Tues Nov. 27 The Priesthood and Ceremonies. The questions of hierarchy, uniformity, morality and theology 5A
Tues Nov. 27 Film: The Divine Horsemen. Also the beginnings of disucssion of Voodoo art. 5B Hand in and prepare materials on art and or music
Tues Nov. 27 Discussion of possession 5C
Tues Dec. 4 Music and Art related to Haitian Voodoo: Discussion, images and sounds 6A Hand in and prepare materials on art and or music
Tues Dec. 4 Film: Haitian Song 6B
Tues Dec. 4 Music and Art related to Haitian Voodoo: Discussion, images and sounds 6C
Tues Dec. 11 Petro Voodoo and Zombification 7A Read: Corbett's notes on Serpent and the Rainbow   and also read Corbett's review of Davis' "Passage" book.
Tues Dec. 11 Film: Legacy of the Spirit 7B Read: Handout of internet discussion of Wade Davis' work.
Tues Dec. 11 Petro Voodoo and Zombification 7C Read: How Are Zombies Made?  Assignments for the 6th week.
Tues Dec. 18 Film: The Serpent and the Rainbow 8A Film: The Serpent and the Rainbow
Tues Dec. 18 Discussion of the film: The Serpent and the Rainbow 8B Discussion: The Serpent and the Rainbow

  • I will only give a grade of incomplete in a very unusual circumstance, one in which the student was doing all work in a timely and acceptable fashion and then some major catastrophe strikes, one for which the student can give evidence of and which is seriously debilitating. Even then, an incomplete would be negotiated toward the shortest reasonable time to fulfill the work with no extensions. In only the rarest occasions would a grade for a fulfilled incomplete ever be higher than a C.
  • Alternative grading procedure is possible:  Were any student unhappy with the above grading procedure, the student is welcome to begin discussion with Corbett toward forming an alternative grading procedure. This would take an initial discussion with the Corbett which would be initiated by the student. Were an agreement reached then the student has the responsibility to write up the new grading contract and have it signed by both Corbett and the student. Such a contract would have to be signed and finished, and a copy given to Corbett, before the third week of classes had ended.
  • A statement on plagiarism. Plag1arism is turning in any written work as one's own which was written by someone else. This is a completely unacceptable behavior in the academic world and is counted as a clear case of cheating. Any student caught plagiarizing in this class will be given an F for the entire course. No second chances will be given. The policy is firm and absolute.

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    Bob Corbett corbetre@webster.edu