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Vodou in the Imaginary of Haitian Writers
Le vodou dans l’imaginaire des écrivains haïtiens
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:38:07
Abstract
Vodou is elusive, fascinating, disturbing and threatening, but it inhabits the soul of the Haitian people. It is said that Haitians are 60% Catholic, 40% Protestant and 100% Vodou. Far from Hollywood clichés, Vodou is a spiritual system and a way of life that permeates the social exchanges, medicine, agriculture, cosmology and, above all, the arts of the Haitian people.
Objective
How do Haitian writers, past and present, project Vodou in their works? Themes will be identified and discussed in each module, shedding light on the evolution of Vodou in the period in which the work was produced.
Content
Vodou is elusive, fascinating, disturbing and threatening, but it inhabits the soul of the Haitian people. It is said that Haitians are 60% Catholic, 40% Protestant and 100% Vodou. Far from Hollywood clichés, Vodou is a spiritual system and a way of life that permeates the social exchanges, medicine, agriculture, cosmology and, above all, the arts of the Haitian people. A spiritual system that faces prejudice and hostility from Haitians and foreigners alike. A spiritual system used by some in the West to justify racist beliefs. How do Haitian writers, past and present, project Vodou in their works? From the reappropriation of the ancestral origins of the Indigenist movement, which arose in reaction to the American occupation of Haiti (1915-1934), to the marvellous realism first formulated by the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier and promoted by the Haitian Jacques Stephen Alexis, to contemporary literary creations, this course proposes a reading of a few novels and short stories by Haitian authors who, each according to his or her political commitments, social status, convictions or spiritual uncertainties, express their profound and controversial culture. Each course will be presented in two or three phases, depending on the length or complexity of the work to be covered. A preliminary reading phase will deal with the universe of the text (lexicon, sounds, colors, local expressions etc.), a second phase will focus on the construction and unfolding of the plot (linear or otherwise) and then the social context of the works (classes and class conflicts in Haiti) will be highlighted. Themes will be identified and discussed in each module, shedding light on the evolution of Vodou in the period during which the work was produced. The floor will also be given to students on the course, who will be asked (in groups or on their own) to share their impressions of the readings, make presentations on the themes addressed, etc.
General Information
- Language
- French
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Le vodou dans l’imaginaire des écrivains haïtiens |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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