Anthropology of the Supernatural: Witches, Zombies, and Vampires

Definition of Liminal:
- Beings that live on the boundaries between the human world and the Otherworld; they are considered border-crossers.
Definition of Cryptid:
- Creatures that are normally hidden from view, appearing and disappearing at will.
Definition of Supernatural:
- Phenomena that are part of the natural world but are extraordinary; they possess both physical and spiritual forms.

Ability to interact with humans and often take them into their worlds.
Associated with time anomalies, often featuring moral ambiguity; they can be helpful, harmful, or indifferent.
Humans must maintain the right relationship with these beings to avoid negative consequences.

Little People:
- Many cultures feature traditions of small, supernatural humanoids who reside in nature.
- Encounters with them can be risky, and one should take precautions.
Fairies in European Folklore:
- An umbrella term for various humanoid beings with non-human traits and powers.
- Characteristics vary per cultural tradition but can include:
- Living alongside the human world in mounds, bodies of water, and woods.
- Capable of being helpful, mischievous, or harmful to humans.
- Shared traits with the dead.

Many legends revolve around themes of sex and reproduction:
- Fairies are said to kidnap humans, particularly for romantic purposes (e.g., True Thomas, Tam Lin).
- They may require human help for reproduction, resulting in changelings.
- Stories like Cherry of Zennor emphasize the need for human involvement in fairy reproductive matters.

Encounters with fairies often reflect societal anxieties, including:
- Illness, disability, and death; anxieties around fertility and childbirth; violence and social control mechanisms.
- Fairies may symbolize taboo social topics (e.g., domestic abuse).

Medieval Romance:
- Transformed oral fairy legends into structured narratives resembling feudal organization.
- Alluring yet dangerous representations of femininity and sexuality.
Victorian Literature:
- Fairies became depicted as minor nature spirits, resulting in their integration into children’s literature (e.g., Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairy books).
- Established a lasting connection between fairies and nature.

Fairy beliefs persist today in remote regions, often coexisting with religious practices (e.g., Iceland, Newfoundland).
Fairies repurposed into subcultures and narratives, such as:
- Environmental guardianship
- Gremlins and their association with World War II.

UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects):
- Objects or lights in the sky behaving anomalously; existence not limited to traditional astronomical or mechanical explanations.
Modern UFO Phenomena:
- Documented since biblical times, but gained prominence post-WWII with numerous civilian accounts.
- Investigated by the US Air Force, some remain unexplained.

Conspiracy Theories:
- Allegations that the US Air Force suppresses evidence of extraterrestrial contact or creates UFO phenomena as a diversion from other issues.
Notable Abduction Cases:
- Betty & Barney Hill (1961)
- Betty Andreassen (1963)
- Popularized in the media by Budd Hopkins and Whitley Strieber in the 1980s.

Capture, examination, and otherworldly journeys.
Reminiscent of theophany—visible manifestations of divine beings.
Experiences end with a return to the normal world, often accompanied by new abilities or knowledge.

Both are described as existing in liminal spaces, possessing powers unattainable by humans, and having morally complex interactions.
However, aliens' power is often seen as more technological.

Ancient Astronauts Mythos: Originated by Erich von Däniken in 1968:
- Claims ancient aliens influenced human development and technological advancement.
Emergence of New Religious Movements:
- Groups like Scientology and Raëlism view aliens as deities.
- Reinforce themes of human exceptionalism and exploitative practices.

Description: Large, ape-like humanoids, known as Sasquatch (or Yeti), vary in prominent features and behavior across cultures.
Sightings Trends:
- Reported sightings correlate with population density; evidence is mostly anecdotal with no scientific confirmation.
- Associated with cultural narratives in Indigenous peoples' stories.

Sasquatch serves as:
- A symbol of local identity in certain regions.
- A subject of commodification (e.g., Sasquatch museums).
Anthropological Considerations:
- Encounters with Sasquatch reflect social concerns and cultural attitudes, paralleling beliefs about fairies and other supernatural beings, despite lacking conclusive physical evidence.