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book frustrations
Jan. 17th, 2006 09:16 amI'm a little frustrated right now. I'm trying to put together my final booklist for my non-thesis project and there are a few snags. I wanted to create a vaguely balanced list of books representing how paganism has been studied over the last ten/twenty years. So I have some "good books" and some "bad books", I have books that range off into specifics (like festival, seidh work, sacred art). In that way it is pretty balanced.
On the other hand, its very heavy on Wicca and witchcraft. Its not that I don't want Wicca on there (and early on I realized it was going to be the majority -- that's just how the research has been done), but I do want a better representation of other traditions. I have several books that present themselves as discussions of "Neo-Paganism" but then turn out to be summaries of various kinds of Wicca. Then I have a few books that actually deal with other traditions (one questionable book on Druidry and one book on Seidh work in Norse/Heathen/Asatru contexts). Other than that, its all witchcraft.
In a way, this shows one of the interesting aspects of the way Neo-Paganism has been studied. Very little attention has been paid to non-Wiccan groups. A wealth of really good info on Wicca though -- lots of different theories.
I'm going to turn in my list as it is and keep looking for more additions. Hopefully I can find something that will flesh out the other traditions more.
Anyone out there have any suggestions? I'm looking for academic books writing about Neo-Pagan traditions (not primary sources). I would love to look at anything you all can think of.
On the other hand, its very heavy on Wicca and witchcraft. Its not that I don't want Wicca on there (and early on I realized it was going to be the majority -- that's just how the research has been done), but I do want a better representation of other traditions. I have several books that present themselves as discussions of "Neo-Paganism" but then turn out to be summaries of various kinds of Wicca. Then I have a few books that actually deal with other traditions (one questionable book on Druidry and one book on Seidh work in Norse/Heathen/Asatru contexts). Other than that, its all witchcraft.
In a way, this shows one of the interesting aspects of the way Neo-Paganism has been studied. Very little attention has been paid to non-Wiccan groups. A wealth of really good info on Wicca though -- lots of different theories.
I'm going to turn in my list as it is and keep looking for more additions. Hopefully I can find something that will flesh out the other traditions more.
Anyone out there have any suggestions? I'm looking for academic books writing about Neo-Pagan traditions (not primary sources). I would love to look at anything you all can think of.
