Ghosts of futures past : spiritualism and the cultural politics of nineteenth-century America

__Ghosts of Futures Past__ guides readers through the uncanny world of nineteenth-century American spiritualism. More than an occult parlor game, this was a new religion, which channeled the voices of the dead, linked present with past, and conjured new worldly and otherworldly futures. Tracing the persistence of magic in an emergent culture of secularism, Molly McGarry brings a once marginalized practice to the center of American cultural history. Spiritualism provided an alchemical combination of science and magic that called into question the very categories of male and female, material and immaterial, self and other, living and dead. Dissolving the boundaries between them opened Spiritualist practitioners to other voices and, in turn, allowed them to imagine new social worlds and forge diverse political affinities. This Book Guides Readers Through The Uncanny World Of Nineteenth-century American Spiritualism. More Than An Occult Parlor Game, This Was A New Religion That Channeled The Voices Of The Dead, Linked The Present With The Past, And Conjured New Worldly And Otherworldly Futures. Tracing The Persistence Of Magic In An Emergent Culture Of Secularism, Molly Mcgarry Brings A Once Marginalized Practice To The Center Of American Cultural History. Through Compelling Narratives Of Spectral Visitation By Dead Indian Chiefs, Cross-gendered Spiritual Musical Performance, And Other Mystical Experiences, Mcgarry Vividly Demonstrates How Spiritualism Informed The Changing Relations Of Gender, Race, Sex, And Citizenship. Ghosts Of Futures Past Ultimately Asks How This Apparitional Nineteenth-century Netherworld Haunts Contemporary History And Politics As The Remainder And Reminder Of America's First New Age.--book Jacket. Mourning, Media, And The Cultural Politics Of Conjuring The Dead -- Indian Guides : Haunted Subjects And The Politics Of Vanishing -- Spectral Sexualities : Free Love, Moral Panic, And The Making Of U.s. Obscenity Law -- Mediomania : The Spirit Of Science In A Culture Of Belief And Doubt -- Secular Subjects : A Queer Genealogy Of Untimely Sexualities. Molly Mcgarry. Simpson, Imprint In Humanities--p. Facing T.p. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-260) And Index. Ghosts of Futures Past guides readers through the uncanny world of nineteenth-century American spiritualism. More than an occult parlor game, this was a new religion, which channeled the voices of the dead, linked present with past, and conjured new worldly and otherworldly futures. Tracing the persistence of magic in an emergent culture of secularism, Molly McGarry brings a once marginalized practice to the center of American cultural history. Spiritualism provided an alchemical combination of science and magic that called into question the very categories of male and female, material and immaterial, self and other, living and dead. Dissolving the boundaries between them opened Spiritualist practitioners to other voices and, in turn, allowed them to imagine new social worlds and forge diverse political affinities. More than an occult parlour game, 19th century American Spiritualism was a new religion, which channeled the voices of the dead, linked present with past, and conjured new worldly and otherworldly futures. Tracing the persistence of magic in an emergent culture of secularism, McGarry looks at this part of American cultural history.