There are no isolation hats, wands or flying broomsticks, but magical mysteries still await.
A university in the United Kingdom will offer the country’s first postgraduate degree in magic and the occult, according to a report.
The University of Exeter will offer a Master’s degree starting in September 2024 amid a recent surge of interest in the history of witchcraft and wizardry, Emily Selove, an associate professor of medieval Arabic literature who heads the program, told the New York Times.
The course will explore the influence of magic on society and science through the lens of Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions, the Times reported.
Although students will not attend Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions classes, the program offers unique courses such as the study of dragons in Western culture, literature and art and the depiction of women and witches in the Middle Ages.
Selove said he has been contacted by hundreds of would-be witches and wizards interested in the opportunity to explore such topics across academic fields.
This program will examine magic and its influence on society through several academic fields.Getty Images
“If we are to find truly new and creative solutions to the problems we as a society face, then we need to be honest and brave about the fact that some tried and true methodologies have their limits,” he told the newspaper. . “Let’s try carefully and responsibly some new or old ideas that we have thrown away.”
Interest in witchcraft and the occult has been widespread, especially among the younger, less religious generation — evidenced by the many TikToks where the hashtag #WitchTok has been viewed more than 50 billion times for videos about identifying the characteristics of a witch and how to get rid of evil energy at home, according to The Times.
Witches have also emerged as feminist symbols, according to Dr. Christina Oakley Harrington, retired academic of medieval history and founder of London bookshop Treadwell’s, which specializes in literature on witchcraft and spiritualism.
Hundreds have already inquired about the program, according to Prof Emily Selove.
In her bookstore, young women in their teens and early 20s read feminist literature about witchcraft and the history of witchcraft, “which they wouldn’t have done 10 years ago,” she said.
Harrington said she and others in her circle with similar interests are considering enrolling in Exter’s program.
“It’s not because they’re stupid and think it’s going to teach them how to wave magic wands and cast spells,” he said. “They are people who have a great curiosity about the world and how we see the seen and the unseen.”
Pam Grossman, who hosts the popular “The Witch Wave” podcast and is chairing this weekend’s Occult Humaties Conference at NYU, told The Times interest in witchcraft isn’t just for Harry Potter fans.
“Whether or not one believes in magic, it still deserves academic scrutiny because humans have practiced magic for thousands of years, and therefore it deserves study and attention,” he said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
