A study in supernatural literature and phenomenology

Abstract

The introductory chapter deals mainly with a metaphysical debate about what can objectively be described as supernatural. Within the debate, cultural relativism and objectivity are seen to be al cross purposes. Afterwards, I grouped what I defined as supernatural genres into the following groups i.e. • Gothic and neo-Gothic novels; • scientific or pseudo-scientific renderings of paranormal phenomena; • scientific or pseudo-scientific descriptions of UFOs, • science fiction; • fairy tales; • a brief Maltese panorama concerning supernatural phenomena in fiction and fact In the above chapters a brief critical discussion will introduce the genre and its main protagonists - both fictional and factual. The subsequent chapter will deal with the Information gathered from a survey to a representative sample of the Maltese and Gozitan population. The dissertation will end with a debate as to the importance of the cultural and temporal contexts with regards to this phenomena. An introductory map of the evolution of the phenomena is given, utilising Majid Teherenian's seven stage evolution of human culture, whilst a more in-depth rendering features as the main protagonist, Ong's Orality and Literacy.