Panel: EXPLORING TRANSFORMATION IN HIGHLY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES: SOCIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES



324.6 - DIGITAL MEDIUMSHIP: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE SPIRIT MEDIUMSHIP ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN CONTEMPORARY IRAN

AUTHORS:
Abbasi M. (Habilitation candidate, Institute of Cultural and Social Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg ~ Erlangen ~ Germany)
Text:
In contemporary Iran, the rise of social media platforms and their growing influence on everyday life have led to the emergence and expansion of various forms of esoteric practices that were previously restricted by governmental and religious authorities and marginalised by the middle-class Iranians. This article, which is based on my ethnographic research on social media-based esoteric practices in contemporary Iran, explores spirit mediumship as an emerging facet of these practices on digital platforms. It explains how social media platforms are enabling mediums to present spiritual guidance, communicate with their clients, and navigate the stigma often associated with their practices. Through following Iranian mediums on social media platforms and in-depth interviews with Iranian mediums and their clients, this research also highlights how social media serves as a tool for both visibility and anonymity, allowing for the growth of spirit mediumship in a society where such practices have traditionally been restricted and marginalised.