Browse Titles - 4 results
The Guardian of the Forces
directed by Anne-Laure Folly, 1954-; produced by Anne-Laure Folly, 1954- (London, England: Royal Anthropological Institute, 1991), 54 mins
The Guardian of the Forces introduces the viewer to the world of Sikavi, a ‘fetish priest’ in Lome, Togo. He controls the spirits of several voodoos or gods. The film explores the significance of sacrifice and possession in communicating with spirits of ancestors and voodoo deities. Tradition and modernity are...
Sample
directed by Anne-Laure Folly, 1954-; produced by Anne-Laure Folly, 1954- (London, England: Royal Anthropological Institute, 1991), 54 mins
Description
The Guardian of the Forces introduces the viewer to the world of Sikavi, a ‘fetish priest’ in Lome, Togo. He controls the spirits of several voodoos or gods. The film explores the significance of sacrifice and possession in communicating with spirits of ancestors and voodoo deities. Tradition and modernity are contrasted in this colourful documentary, which provides insight into healing practices of life and death.
Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Anne-Laure Folly, 1954-, Sikavi, fl. 1990, Patricia Pierangeli, 1947-
Author / Creator
Anne-Laure Folly, 1954-
Date Published / Released
1991
Publisher
Royal Anthropological Institute
Speaker / Narrator
Patricia Pierangeli, 1947-
Topic / Theme
Togolese, Religious beliefs, Religious rites and ceremonies, Spiritual possession, Vodoo, Ethnography
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1991. Used by permission of Royal Anthropological Institute. All rights reserved.
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History's Mysteries, The Evil Eye
produced by Paul Boorstin, 1944-, Filmroos Inc., in History's Mysteries (New York, NY: A&E Television Networks, 1998), 43 mins
In Search of History journeys 2,000 years from ancient times to the present, taking a closer look at the events, places, and hidden mysteries that have puzzled and inspired historians and experts across the ages. Episode: The Evil Eye: This Show Will Be A Reformat It's Next Run: This special 2-hour presentation de...
Sample
produced by Paul Boorstin, 1944-, Filmroos Inc., in History's Mysteries (New York, NY: A&E Television Networks, 1998), 43 mins
Description
In Search of History journeys 2,000 years from ancient times to the present, taking a closer look at the events, places, and hidden mysteries that have puzzled and inspired historians and experts across the ages. Episode: The Evil Eye: This Show Will Be A Reformat It's Next Run: This special 2-hour presentation delves into the strange history of voodoo from its origins in ancient African religions to its spread and practice in Western countries.
Field of Study
World History
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Arthur Kent, 1953-, Paul Boorstin, 1944-, Filmroos Inc., David Ackroyd, 1940-
Date Published / Released
1998
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Series
History's Mysteries
Speaker / Narrator
David Ackroyd, 1940-
Topic / Theme
Religious rites and ceremonies, Religious faiths, Religious beliefs, Traditional history, Vodoo, Africans
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1998 A+E Networks. All Rights Reserved
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Legacy of the Spirits
written by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; directed by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; produced by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978 (Watertown, MA: Documentary Educational Resources (DER)), 52 mins
Legacy of the Spirits traces the religion of Vodou (voodoo) from Africa to Haiti to New York City. It explains the theology of the religion, the meaning of the rituals, the pantheon of spirits, possession, the sacred drawings (called ve-ve), the Catholic influence, the history of persecution and more.
Sample
written by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; directed by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; produced by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978 (Watertown, MA: Documentary Educational Resources (DER)), 52 mins
Description
Legacy of the Spirits traces the religion of Vodou (voodoo) from Africa to Haiti to New York City. It explains the theology of the religion, the meaning of the rituals, the pantheon of spirits, possession, the sacred drawings (called ve-ve), the Catholic influence, the history of persecution and more. For centuries, the religion of Vodou (commonly called "voodoo" by outsiders) has been thought of as sticking pins in dolls or witchcraft. It has be...
Legacy of the Spirits traces the religion of Vodou (voodoo) from Africa to Haiti to New York City. It explains the theology of the religion, the meaning of the rituals, the pantheon of spirits, possession, the sacred drawings (called ve-ve), the Catholic influence, the history of persecution and more. For centuries, the religion of Vodou (commonly called "voodoo" by outsiders) has been thought of as sticking pins in dolls or witchcraft. It has been kept underground and practiced in secret, giving way to much misunderstanding and sensationalism. This documentary - the first of its kind - shows how Vodou is a valid and serious belief system. The film interweaves exciting Vodou ceremonies, important scholarly information, compelling music, and images of colorful ritual objects, to show the beauty behind what has been one of the world's most misunderstood religions. Legacy of the Spirits traces the religion from Africa to Haiti to New York City. It explains the theology of the religion, the meaning of the rituals, the pantheon of spirits, possession, the sacred drawings (called ve-ve), the Catholic influence, the history of persecution and more. This is all explained by priests and priestesses who practice Vodou and who give the film the quality of being both informative, yet personal. Filmed entirely in the Caribbean communities in New York City, participants speak of what the religion means to them and their families, how the spirits have helped them, and why they continue to practice these ancient traditions today. Since the religion has always been kept underground (the reasons why are explained in the film), this is the first time the practitioners have spoken about it openly on camera.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978, Anne-Marie LeGros, Karl F. Kernisant
Author / Creator
Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978
Date Published / Released
1985
Publisher
Documentary Educational Resources (DER)
Topic / Theme
Creole, American, Caribbean, Haitian, Louisiana Creole, Mediums, Religious beliefs, Cultural change and history, Religious rites and ceremonies, Vodoo, Religion, Ethnography, Americans, Haitians, Cajuns
Copyright Message
by Documentary Educational Resources
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To Serve the Gods
written by Ira Lowenthal and Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; directed by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978 (Watertown, MA: Documentary Educational Resources (DER), 1982), 33 mins
To Serve the Gods is about the beliefs, rituals and performances of a week-long ceremony given by a Haitian family in honor of its ancestral spirits. We are told at the outset of the film that this sevis loua only occurs every twenty to thirty years. This particular service takes place in a rural community in sout...
Sample
written by Ira Lowenthal and Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978; directed by Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978 (Watertown, MA: Documentary Educational Resources (DER), 1982), 33 mins
Description
To Serve the Gods is about the beliefs, rituals and performances of a week-long ceremony given by a Haitian family in honor of its ancestral spirits. We are told at the outset of the film that this sevis loua only occurs every twenty to thirty years. This particular service takes place in a rural community in southern Haiti, on family land, where relatives have gathered to propitiate gods inherited by their ancestors. To Serve the Gods is about t...
To Serve the Gods is about the beliefs, rituals and performances of a week-long ceremony given by a Haitian family in honor of its ancestral spirits. We are told at the outset of the film that this sevis loua only occurs every twenty to thirty years. This particular service takes place in a rural community in southern Haiti, on family land, where relatives have gathered to propitiate gods inherited by their ancestors. To Serve the Gods is about the beliefs, rituals and performances of a week-long ceremony given by a Haitian family in honor of its ancestral spirits. We are told at the outset of the film that this sevis loua only occurs every twenty to thirty years. This particular service takes place in a rural community in southern Haiti, on family land, where relatives have gathered to propitiate gods inherited by their ancestors. This celebration of one's birthright and obligations involves drumming, song, dance, possession, animal sacrifice and sharing of food with the gods and with friends, family and neighbors. Filmmaker Karen Kramer has been a student of Vodou for twenty years and attended ceremonies for the first time in Haiti in 1971. Her film is based on the ethnographic research of anthropologist Ira Lowenthal and his paper, Ritual Performances and Religious Experience: A Service for the Gods in Southern Haiti.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Ira Lowenthal, Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978, John Genke
Author / Creator
Ira Lowenthal, Karen L. Kramer, fl. 1978
Date Published / Released
1982
Publisher
Documentary Educational Resources (DER)
Speaker / Narrator
John Genke
Topic / Theme
Haitian, Religion, Religious beliefs, Religious rites and ceremonies, Vodoo, Ethnography, Haitians
Copyright Message
© Documentary Educational Resources
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