"The body is a vehicule upon which ride all sorts of secondary intentions and meanings." - Douglas B., Prehistoric Figurines
Filling an inanimate object with powerful spirits so that you can alter the life of a human- thus seems the goal of the Voodoo doll. This seems to defy many of our assumptions about things, namely that they have no spiritual agency. How does a wooden sculpture or moss-filled doll have the power to create love or drown someone?
My project has been revised after I discovered that the traditional conception of the voodoo doll has mostly been created. I will therefore compare and contrast the traditional Louisiana voodoo doll with the Congolese Nkisi doll, but also bring in the popular conception of a voodoo doll -- pins and evil-- as a case study.
- What is the doll?
- Philosophy and purpose
- So how do I curse and heal?
- Types of dolls
- Materiality and creation of the doll
- Representation
- Art?
- Case study- Voodoo dolls in the modern world- Nicolas S.
- Case study- Minkisi to kill people swiftly- Nkondi
- Does the term Voodoo doll fit?
- Images of dolls
- Conclusion
- Sources for the Voodoo Doll
- Suggestions and ideas!
Posted at Dec 20/2008 09:26AM:
chris w.: An excellent project Alexandra. You have put together a piece of detailed research which richly engages themes and questions from the class. You also have many novel angles of your own. I love the Sarkosy case study. Well done.
