You Unzip Your Body and They Slide Right In: Hoodoo, Possession, and Gender Performance

Possession is often framed by the media as an evil and painful or forced event but Hoodoo, conversely, views possession as a positive, warm, and loving experience. What is Hoodoo? What happens when a female spirit enters a male body? What happens when a bisexual spirit enters a straight body? Prof. Crystal Boson explains the history and practice of Hoodoo and the importance of celebration and performance to the individual and the community. Crystal Boson is an Assistant Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. Her academic interests focus on Black Feminism, Black Queer Theory, Performance Theory, Black Religion, and Popular Culture. The 2014 Ideas Matter Lecture series, sponsored by the Hundere Endowment in Religion and Culture, in affiliation with the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion is devoted to critical examination of the human body and its manifold meanings in religious experience. Our speakers include distinguished national scholars as well as prominent civic leaders, physicians, and OSU faculty. For more information and a complete schedule, visit: http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/sh...