The Frightening History of Witchcraft and Sleep Disorders
10/11/22 • 24 min
In this episode we speak with CofC junior Francesca Gibson and Jason Coy, chair of the History Department, about the experience of bewitchment in the 15 and 1600s. Funded by a Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF) grant, Gibson and Coy explored a time in history when people believed in and feared witchcraft. Their research closely examined this fascinating period of time through the lens of history and psychology. A time when someone, usually a woman, could be accused of witchery based on the testimony of a member of the community and then sentenced to death. Digging deep into a treasure trove of archived sources like court testimonies, the research reveals the power of the mind to cause sleep disorders, nighttime terrors and physical pain.
In this episode we speak with CofC junior Francesca Gibson and Jason Coy, chair of the History Department, about the experience of bewitchment in the 15 and 1600s. Funded by a Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF) grant, Gibson and Coy explored a time in history when people believed in and feared witchcraft. Their research closely examined this fascinating period of time through the lens of history and psychology. A time when someone, usually a woman, could be accused of witchery based on the testimony of a member of the community and then sentenced to death. Digging deep into a treasure trove of archived sources like court testimonies, the research reveals the power of the mind to cause sleep disorders, nighttime terrors and physical pain.
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How A Contemporary Artist Changed the Narrative
In this episode of Speaking of ... College of Charleston, CofC’s official podcast, Katie Hirsch, director and chief curator at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston, speaks with Stolle, whose exhibition Only You Can Prevent a Forest, is on view at the Halsey through Dec. 10, 2022.
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Stories of "Scandalous Charleston," and the Truth Behind the Myths
It may not come as a surprise that what we know about Charleston’s history is not necessarily the truth. Many of the stories recorded in the history books were written with biased perspectives, ignoring marginalized voices.
In this episode we talk to author and professional tour guide Leigh Handal '81 who says the true history of Charleston, SC doesn't need embellishment. Gathering evidence from trial transcripts and archival newspaper clippings to record the past she says, “The truth is interesting enough.”
In her latest book Storied & Scandalous Charleston, a History of Piracy and Prohibition, Rebellion and Revolution, she reveals well documented, captivating events like the time the infamous Reverend Jenkins Orchestra band had a command performance for King George in England and the time convicted inmate John Fisher stayed at the Old City Jail with his wife Lavinia to die instead of taking his chance at freedom.
Handal is the perfect guide for those who want to dive deeper into the history of Charleston, and says she loves brining visitors to graveyards.
“I could spend most of my day hanging out in graveyards. I like dead people and I like to find out about them because everybody has a story to tell.”
Featured on this Episode:
Leigh Jones Handal ’81 has been an avid student of Charleston’s history since she was a Brownie Scout. Handal has been a licensed tour guide for more than twenty years and owns her own tour company, Charleston Raconteurs. She also serves as Chief Advancement Officer at the American College of Building Arts, where she once had an office at the Charleston District Jail, just down the hall from where Lavinia Fisher awaited her execution.
Resources on this Episode:
Storied & Scandalous Charleston, a History of Piracy and Prohibition, Rebellion and Revolution
Speaking of ... College of Charleston - The Frightening History of Witchcraft and Sleep Disorders
Transcript
Nick 00:12
Hello, Welcome to Speaking of College of Charleston. I'm Nick Plasmati from the College of Charleston Honors College. In this episode, we'll explore one of the more unique research projects currently being conducted at the college. Our guests today are Francesca Gibson, a junior in the College of Charleston Honors College double majoring in history and psychology, and Dr. Jason Coy, Professor and Chair of the college's Department of History. Francesca spent t
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