Public Perception of Louisiana Voodoo: Eighteenth Century Practices In The Digital Age

Summary

Louisiana has long been known for its participation in various African and Caribbean rituals and Voodoo practices. However, over three centuries of Louisiana’s history, public perception has changed a myriad of times, reflecting the cultural changes at large of the United States. Currently, the practice of Voodoo and other religions have made a popular resurgence, particularly in the digital age. Members of all religions can find common interest groups and obtain materials needed for rituals and spells. Frequently human and animal bones, cemetery dirt, and other miscellaneous materials are used in ritual spells and sold for Voodoo practices. Here, we look at the public perceptions and current attitudes towards Voodoo in Louisiana today in the digital world with examples of casework from the Louisiana Department of Justice which monitors illegal sales of human remains and the implications of this resurgence on historic site (particularly cemeteries) protection.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2018   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 1033