Archive

Archive functions as a reference space, bringing together books, sources, and cultural materials related to the themes explored throughout Oraclepedia. It highlights the works, studies, and traditions that inform the project’s content, supporting transparency, continuity, and deeper exploration for readers who wish to follow the origins of ideas and narratives.

Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

American Conspiracy Theories – Joseph E. Uscinski, Joseph M. Parent – 2018

This work provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of American conspiracy theories, exploring their origins, prevalence, and impact on society.
It moves beyond individual beliefs to identify broader patterns and the underlying social and political factors at play.
The book offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the psychology of belief, political polarization, and the evolving landscape of information in the digital age.

Read More American Conspiracy Theories – Joseph E. Uscinski, Joseph M. Parent – 2018
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

African Folktales: Traditional Stories of the Black World – Roger David Abrahams – Originally published in 1983 as part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library.

A comprehensive anthology of nearly one hundred sub-Saharan narratives that emphasizes the performance, social context, and intellectual complexity of African oral traditions. The work explores themes of animal tricksters, human ethical dilemmas, and the relationship between the visible and spiritual worlds.

Read More African Folktales: Traditional Stories of the Black World – Roger David Abrahams – Originally published in 1983 as part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library.
Archive / Cultural References

Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary – Marina Warner – 1976

Marina Warner’s work provides a critical analysis of the Virgin Mary’s evolving myth and its reflection of societal views on women, sexuality, and power.
It arose from the feminist scholarship of the 1970s, offering a nuanced, interdisciplinary perspective.
It’s relevant to those interested in religious studies, feminist theory, art history, and cultural mythology.

Read More Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary – Marina Warner – 1976
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance – Robert N. Proctor, Londa Schiebinger – Stanford University Press, 2008

A pioneering multidisciplinary study of how ignorance is culturally and politically produced. The authors examine the deliberate manufacturing of doubt, the impact of secrecy, and the social mechanisms that lead to the erasure of knowledge.

Read More Agnotology: The Making and Unmaking of Ignorance – Robert N. Proctor, Londa Schiebinger – Stanford University Press, 2008
Archive / Cultural References

A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold – 1949, Oxford University Press

Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac proposes a ‘land ethic’—a moral framework extending ethical considerations to the natural world. It is a lyrical blend of natural history, philosophical reflection, and personal experience advocating for a shift in human perception and responsibility towards the land.

Read More A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold – 1949, Oxford University Press
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other – Sherry Turkle – Basic Books, 2011

A significant psychological study of how digital connectivity and social robotics are reshaping human intimacy and self-perception. The work explores the ‘tethered self’ and the paradox of feeling isolated despite being constantly connected.

Read More Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other – Sherry Turkle – Basic Books, 2011
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

An Analysis of Malay Magic – Kirk Endicott – 1979

This ethnography provides a detailed examination of Semai magic, exploring concepts of spirit power, ritual practice, and the social context of belief. It is a valuable resource for understanding the worldview of the Semai people and the role of magic in their lives.

Read More An Analysis of Malay Magic – Kirk Endicott – 1979
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business – Neil Postman – Penguin Books, 2005 (20th Anniversary Edition; Original publication 1985)

A seminal investigation into how the medium of television has transformed public discourse into a branch of show business. Postman explores the transition from a typographic to a visual culture, examining the loss of logic, context, and sustained attention in the age of entertainment.

Read More Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business – Neil Postman – Penguin Books, 2005 (20th Anniversary Edition; Original publication 1985)
Archive / Cultural References

Air and Dreams: An Essay on the Imagination of Movement – Gaston Bachelard – 1947, Various editions

Bachelard’s work explores the poetic and psychological significance of air and movement, arguing they fundamentally shape our imagination and understanding of intangible concepts like freedom and aspiration.
It emerges from a post-war intellectual climate focused on subjective experience and existential questioning.
This book appeals to readers interested in philosophy, psychology, and poetry, offering insights into the embodied nature of human experience.

Read More Air and Dreams: An Essay on the Imagination of Movement – Gaston Bachelard – 1947, Various editions
Archive / Books & Scholarly Works

African Religions and Philosophy – John Samuel Mbiti – 1969 (Heinemann Educational Publishers); 1989 (Second Edition)

A seminal study that redefined the global understanding of African traditional religions, presenting them as sophisticated, holistic systems with a unique ontological perspective on time and community.

Read More African Religions and Philosophy – John Samuel Mbiti – 1969 (Heinemann Educational Publishers); 1989 (Second Edition)