Magical Money and Enchanted Capitalisms
RELI 270
Fall 2013
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01
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In the early days of the 20th century, Max Weber foresaw that with the rise of capitalism and modernity the world would become increasingly disenchanted. Now, at the turn of the 21st century, people all over the world experience capitalism as a realm of enchantment. In Malaysia, ghosts possess factory workers; in South Africa, capitalism produces zombies; and in Bolivia, mines eat their miners. Instead of Weber's "iron cage," we live in a world of "voodoo economics" where Korean shamans conduct ceremonies to bless new businesses, Russian psychics curse business competitors, and prosperity theology preaches that God will make you rich. This class explores the enchantment of the financial sphere, combining theory on the disenchantment of modernity (Max Weber) and commodity fetishism (Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, William Pietz) with ethnographic accounts of how capitalism and the economy become mystified and enchanted. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (RELI-MN)(RELI) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYS |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
M. Weber, THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM
K. Marx, ECONOMIC AND PHILOSOPHIC MANUSCRIPTS AND CAPITAL (Selections)
L. Kendall, SHAMANS, NOSTALGIAS AND THE IMF
G. Lindquist, CONJURING HOPE
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three 4-page essays, each of which to be revised once. One final 8-10 pp. essay. Readings and discussions. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
THIS SECTION IS A FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR (FYS) CLASS.
This course fulfills the "Thematic Approach" requirement for the Religion Department major. |
| Instructor(s): Quijada,Justine Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM; Location: ALLB004; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 15 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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