Trance Mediums and New Media: Spirit Possession in the Age of Technical Reproduction
Behrend, Heike; , Dreschke, Anja; , Zillinger, Martin
88
Editorial score
How we rate
Stock reported in the catalog; fulfillment is confirmed with your request.
Unveiling how ancient trance meets modern media in a world re-enchanted.
This groundbreaking study delves into the often-overlooked ecstatic and communal dimensions of religious experience, particularly spirit possession and trance, which are experiencing a global resurgence. Challenging prevailing academic narratives that neglect these 'orgiastic' qualities of faith, the authors explore how contemporary media technologies—from broadcasting to digital platforms—not only document but actively reshape and propagate these profound spiritual phenomena. It offers a vital interdisciplinary lens, bridging sociology of religion, anthropology, and media studies to reveal the intricate dance between spiritual traditions and the technological age.
Situated at the intersection of media studies and the sociology of religion, this work addresses the contemporary global resurgence of spirit possession and trance rituals. It challenges traditional academic narratives by examining how modern technical reproduction reshapes ancient ecstatic practices.
📝 Description: Trance Mediums and New Media: Spirit Possession in the Age of Technical Reproduction
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book is essential for scholars and curious readers alike who seek to understand the complex relationship between ancient spiritual traditions and modern technology. It offers a vital interdisciplinary lens, bridging sociology, anthropology, and media studies to reveal how broadcasting and digital platforms do not merely document but actively reshape spirit possession. If you are fascinated by the 're-enchantment' of the world through technical means, this study provides a groundbreaking perspective on the communal dimensions of faith that are often overlooked in favor of more conventional religious analysis. It is particularly valuable for those interested in how contemporary media propagates profound spiritual phenomena.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Behrend, Dreschke, and Zillinger deliver a rigorous academic inquiry into the 'orgiastic' qualities of faith often neglected by prevailing narratives. The text successfully challenges established views on religious experience by focusing on the dynamic interplay between trance mediums and new media. However, readers seeking accessible, layperson-friendly introductions to spiritualism may find the dense theoretical framework demanding. It is not suited for those looking for practical guides on mediumship or casual devotional reading. Instead, it demands a scholarly engagement with complex interdisciplinary theories regarding technical reproduction and its impact on religious practice.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're fascinated by the intersection of spirituality, technology, and culture, or if you seek a deeper understanding of global religious movements beyond their institutional forms, this book is essential. It's for anyone questioning how ancient practices thrive in our hyper-connected world.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Ecstatic Spirituality's Resurgence
The book meticulously documents the global rise in practices of trance and spirit possession, arguing that these vibrant, often 'orgiastic' forms of religiosity have been largely ignored by mainstream academic discourse on the 'return of religion.' It repositions these experiences as central to understanding contemporary spiritual landscapes, rather than mere fringe phenomena.
Media and Spiritual Transmission
This work critically examines how modern communication technologies—from television and radio to the internet and social media—serve as crucial conduits for the 'technical reproduction' and dissemination of spirit possession phenomena. It explores the complex interplay where media not only records but also actively influences the form, reach, and interpretation of ecstatic spiritual events.
Rethinking Modern Religiosity
By focusing on the enthusiastic and embodied aspects of faith, the authors challenge conventional understandings of what constitutes 'modern religion.' They argue for a more inclusive and nuanced perspective that acknowledges the powerful, often physically manifest, dimensions of spiritual practice, which defy purely intellectual or institutional definitions of belief systems.
💬 Quotes from the book
“The digital screen, once a barrier between worlds, now serves as an increasingly porous membrane, mediating ancient ecstasies to global audiences.”
“Far from being relegated to history, the ecstatic impulse of spirit possession finds renewed resonance within the networked global village, challenging secular modernity's assumptions.”
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Spirit Possession
- Technical Reproduction
- Orgiastic Religiosity
📔 Questions to reflect on
- How have modern media platforms influenced your own perception or understanding of spiritual practices that might seem 'unconventional'?
- Consider a religious or spiritual tradition you are familiar with. How might its 'orgiastic' or ecstatic elements be amplified or altered by technical reproduction?
- In what ways does the global resurgence of trance challenge our contemporary, often secular, definitions of what constitutes authentic religious experience?
✍️ More books by this author Behrend, Heike; , Dreschke, Anja; , Zillinger, Martin
All books by this author →
🏛 Books from this publisher Fordham University Press
All books from this publisher →
You might also like
See more →
