The Past and Stuff

Auteur(s): The Past and Stuff
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  • Résumé

  • An irreverent, geeky, and occasionally gory History podcast where we discuss the past and the stuff that made it. Mixing material culture, microhistory, and storytelling, we find new angles from which to examine world history through strange and interesting objects. We are two history professors from different cultures and a generation apart in age. Join us as we laugh and learn together.
    The Past and Stuff
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Épisodes
  • S2 Ep20: Episode 20: Witch Bottles and Obsidian Mirrors

    S2 Ep20: Episode 20: Witch Bottles and Obsidian Mirrors
    Oct 6 2024
    Check us out at thepastandstuff.com for images of the historical artifacts we discuss and our blog. In this first episode of Season two, we are gearing up to Halloween. In Stuff in the News this week Ashley talks about NYC Mayor Eric Adams taking bribes from Turkey to not acknowledge the Armenian Holocaust. While, Tracey's Stuff in the News concerns mummies and skeletons, not the Halloween yard decorations, but actual Stone Age mummies and skeletons, and how researchers have been thinking about a system to name them other than dehumanizing numbers. In her piece of stuff this week Ashley's discusses Witch bottles, probably the most numerous, or at least most recognizable and extant anti-witch devices usually from the Early Modern period, but the example she uses is from as late as the American Civil War in the nineteenth century. Tracey's Piece of Stuff in an obsidian mirror from Aztec Mexico, used for divination or scrying, but also worn in ritual costumes, as well as being a facet of the god Tezcatlipoca, or the "Lord of Smoking Mirrors." Ashley’s Stuff in the News: Michele McPhee, “Feds: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Took Bribes From Turkish Official To Ignore Armenian Genocide,” Los Angeles Magazine, September 26, 2024, https://lamag.com/news/feds-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-took-bribes-from-turkish-official-to-ignore-armenian-genocide. Sean Mathews, “First Stop Istanbul’: Mayor Eric Adams Accused of Taking Bribes to Do Turkey’s Bidding in New York City,” Middle East Eye, September 26, 2024, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/first-stop-istanbul-eric-adams-did-turkeys-bidding-armenian-genocide-and-un-compound-federal. Tracey’s Stuff in the News Chemnitz University of Technology, “Archaeologists develop system to produce unique names for skeletons and mummies,” accessed October 1st, 2024 at https://phys.org/news/2024-10-archaeologists-unique-stone-age-skeletons.html Tracey’s Halloween History History.com editors, Halloween 2024, updated Oct 3, 2024, accessed Oct 3rd, 2024 at https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween Joshua J. Mark, “History of Halloween,” Oct 21, 2009 accessed October 3, 2024 at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween/ Ashley’s Piece of Stuff: Sarah Bahari, “Why Are Magic ‘Witch Bottles’ Used for Spells Washing Up on Texas Beaches?” NBC, November 27, 2023, https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/why-are-magic-witch-bottles-used-for-spells-washing-up-on-texas-beaches/3397188/. Phil Gast, “Artifact Found at Civil War Site May Be a ‘Witch Bottle’ Used to Ward Off Evil Spirits. Really.” CNN, January 27, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/us/witch-bottle-virginia-civil-war-trnd/index.html. Simon Ingram, “Witch Bottles’ Filled with Nails and Teeth Were Once Thought to Heal the Cursed,” National Geographic, September 24, 2024, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/witch-bottles-rituals-superstition-17th-century. Samir S. Patel, “Opening a Witch Bottle,” Archaeology Magazine, 2009, https://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/halloween/opening_witch_bottle/. Mark Price, “Eerie ‘Witch Bottles’ Are Washing Up along Gulf of Mexico. It’s Best Not to Open Them.” Fort Worth Star Telegram, November 20, 2023, https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article281997308.html. Thwaite, Annie. “What Is a 'Witch-Bottle'? Assembling the Textual Evidence from Early Modern England.” Magic Ritual Witch 15, no. 2 (Fall 2020): 227-251. Tracey’s Piece of Stuff Stuart Campbell, Elizabeth Healey, Yaroslav Kuzmin, and Michael Glassock, “The Mirror, The Magus and More: Reflections on John Dee’s Obsidian Mirror, “ Antiquity 2021, pp.1547-1564 Emiliano Gallaga and Marc G. Bliney, Manufactured Light: Mirrors in the Mesoamerican Realm, University of Colorado Press, 2016. Marc N. Levine and David M. Carballa, Obsidian Reflections: Symbolic Dimensions of Obsidian in Mesoamerica, University of Colorado Press, 2014. Guilhem Olivier, Mockeries and Metamorphoses of an Aztec God: Tezcatlipoca “Lord of Smoking Mirrors” University of Colorado Press, 2008. Karl A. Taube, “The Iconography of Mirrors at Teotihuacan,” in Janet Catherine Berlo ed. Art, Ideology, and the City of Teotihuacan: A Symposium at Dumbarton Oaks, 8th and 9th October 1988, Washington D.C. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections and Trustees of Harvard University, pp.169-204 Nicholas J. Saunders, “A Dark Light: Reflection on Obsidian in Mesoamerica,” World Archaeology 33 (2001), pp.220-236. Paul F. Healey and Marc G. Blaney, “Ancient Maya Mosaic Mirrors: Function, Symbolism, and Meaning,” Ancient Mesoamerica 22 (2011), pp.229-244. Wikipedia, Mirrors in Mesoamerican Culture accessed Oct 1st, 2024 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirrors_in_Mesoamerican_culture Wikipedia, Obsidian, accessed Oct 1, 2024 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsidian Wikipedia, Tezcatlipoca, ...
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    2 h et 4 min
  • S1 Ep19: Episode 19: Kreepy Krampus and Two Non-Voodoo Dolls Part 2

    S1 Ep19: Episode 19: Kreepy Krampus and Two Non-Voodoo Dolls Part 2
    Dec 25 2023
    In this episode, Tracey talks us through the science behind some of the new news about why olive oil is good for you and why ultra processed foods are bad for you. Ashley, meanwhile, tells us about the plight of Jerusalem’s ancient Armenian Christian quarter that is currently the subject of a seriously dodgy and illegal land grab. Tracey’s Piece of Stuff returns to the theme of figurines with nails coming out of them that are not voodoo dolls (Spoiler: Voodoo dolls are a myth!). This time we are looking at a N’kisi power figurine from the Kongo people and how it ensured social order. To round out our Christmas 2023 offerings Ashley’s Piece of Stuff is a truly creepy greeting card featuring everyone’s favorite Xmas child-kidnapper, Krampus! Tracey’s Stuff in the News: Janis Jibrin, “Ultra Processed Food isn’t Just bad for your health - it messes with your mind,” National Geographic, November 22, 2023. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/ultra-processed-foods-damage-brain-depression-anxiety-cognitive-decline Meryl Davies Landau, “No food or medicine can do what olive oil can do. Here’s Why,” National Geographic November 6, 2023 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/olive-oil-healthiest-oil-prevention-heart-disease-cancer Ashley’s Stuff in the News: Mary Hoogasian and Bedross Der Matossian, “The Armenian Community in Jerusalem Faces an Existential Threat,” Armenian Weekly, November 16, 2023, https://armenianweekly.com/2023/11/16/the-armenian-community-in-jerusalem-faces-an-existential-threat/. Elis Gjevori, “East Jerusalem: Israeli Settlers Seek to Take Over Armenian Quarter by Force,” Middle East Eye, November 16, 2023, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-jerusalem-take-over-armenian-quarter-force. Crispian Balmer, “Jerusalem Christians Rally around Armenian Church over Land Deal,” Reuters, November 19, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jerusalem-christians-rally-round-armenian-church-over-land-deal-2023-11-19/. “‘We Won’t Leave’: Armenians in Jerusalem Push Back against Armed Settlers,” Al Jazeera, November 24, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/24/we-wont-leave-armenians-in-jerusalem-push-back-against-armed-settlers. Tracey’s Piece of Stuff: David Frankfurter "“Voodoo Doll”: Implications and Offense of a Taxonomic Category." Arethusa 53, no. 1 (2020): 43-58. https://doi.org/10.1353/are.2020.0001. David Frankenfurter, “Female Figurines in Early Christian Egypt: Reconstructing Lost Practices and Meanings,” Material Religion 11.2, 190-22. Natalie Armitage, “European and African Figural Magic: The Beginnings of the Voodoo Doll Myth,” in The Materiality of Magic: An Artifactual Investigation into Ritual Practices and Popular Beliefs, eds. Ceri Houlbrook and Natalie Armitage (Oxford, 2015), 185-212. Alisa Lagamma, “The Recently Acquired Kongo Mangaaka Figure,” Metropolitan Museum Journal 43 (2008): 201-210. Alisa Lagamma, Kongo: Power and Majesty (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015). Ashley’s Piece of Stuff: Becky Little, “Meet Krampus, the Christmas Devil Who Punishes Naughty Children,” History Channel, December 18, 2020, https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin. Amy Tikkanen, "Krampus," Encyclopedia Britannica, October 20, 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus. Tanya Basu, “Who is Krampus? Explaining the Horrific Christmas Beast,” National Geographic, December 5, 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil?loggedin=true&rnd=1700000799808. Rachel Nuwer, “In Germany, Santa’s Sidekick is a Cloven-Hooved, Child-Whipping Demon,” Smithsonian Magazine, December 20, 2013, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-germany-santas-sidekick-is-a-cloven-hooved-child-whipping-demon-180948178/. Also referenced: Kessler, David. The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. New York, NY: Rodale Books, 2009. Mehta, Deepa (dir). Earth. New York, NY: Zeitgeist Films, 1998.
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    2 h et 26 min
  • S1 Ep18: Episode 18: Thanksgiving Fiascoes and Not a Voodoo Doll Part 1

    S1 Ep18: Episode 18: Thanksgiving Fiascoes and Not a Voodoo Doll Part 1
    Dec 25 2023
    In this episode Ashley talks about the disgusting way that Citigroup was denying Armenian credit applicants based on their last names. In her Stuff in the News, Tracey talks about new research that suggests an early Jewish Temple in Egypt had priestesses who issued curses. We are exploring possibilities for a Citigroup Defixio (curse). Ashley’s Piece of Stuff is the creepiest Thanksgiving clown ever to terrorize the children of New York city just trying to innocently watch a parade, and a slew of other traumatizing stuff that Macy’s might have wished to avoid in their 97 years of parades. Tracey’s Piece of Stuff is a figure with pins sticking out of it - it's not a voodoo doll, and along with next week’s figure with pins sticking out of it she’ll argue that (spoiler alert) voodoo dolls don’t really exist, at least not how the West has perceived them. Tracey’s Stuff in the News: Gad Barnea, “Justice at the House of Yhw(h): An Early Yahwistic Defixio in Furem,” Religions 14 (2023). https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/10/1324 Tom Metcalf, “There are no Israelite Priestesses in the Bible. A 2,400 year-old curse tells a different story,” National Geographic, November 7, 2023. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/jewish-curse-bible-tablet-israelite-priest-women-elephantine Ashley’s Stuff in the News: Emily Flitter, “Citigroup Discriminated against Armenian Americans, Regulator Says,” New York Times, November 8, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/business/citigroup-discrimination-armenian-americans.html. Tracey’s Piece of Stuff: Marguerite Johnson, “Spells, charms, erotic dolls: love magic in the ancient Mediterranean,” The Conversation, June 26, 2018. https://theconversation.com/spells-charms-erotic-dolls-love-magic-in-the-ancient-mediterranean-98459 Gideon Bohak, “Aggressive Magic,” Traditions of Magic in Ancient Antiquity,” December, 1995. https://apps.lib.umich.edu/files/exhibits/pap-/magic/def2.html Brent Nongbri, “A cursed figurine,” Variant Readings, January 7, 2023. https://brentnongbri.com/2023/01/07/a-cursed-figurine/ Ogden, Daniel. “NECROMANCY AMONG THE ROMANS.” In Greek and Roman Necromancy, 149–60. Princeton University Press, 2001. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvs32rs3.16. Christopher A. Farone, “Binding and Burying the Forces of Evil: The Defensive Use of “Voodoo Dolls” in Ancient Greece,” Classical Antiquity 10 (1991), 165-205. David Frankenfurter, “‘Voodoo Doll’: Implications and Offense of a Taxonomic Category,” Arethusa 53 (2020): 43-58. Ashley’s Piece of Stuff: Madison Horne, “Quirky Vintage Photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” History Channel, November 20, 2020, https://www.history.com/news/quirky-vintage-photos-of-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade. Christopher Klein, “The First Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” History Channel, November 26, 2014, https://www.history.com/news/the-first-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade. Claire Suddath, “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Time, November 27, 2008, https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1862565,00.html. “Congress Establishes Thanksgiving,” National Archives, accessed November 15, 2023, https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/thanksgiving. Christina Caron, “Macy’s Used to Set the Balloons Free, and Other Thanksgiving Day Parade Facts,” New York Times, November 20, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/nyregion/macys-thanksgiving-parade-facts.html.
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    2 h et 26 min

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