Skip to main content

Web Content Display Web Content Display

About

Web Content Display Web Content Display

Dr Piotr Michalik

Dr Piotr Michalik

e-mail: piotr.michalik@uj.edu.pl
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0427-7563

Since 2007 has been conducting fieldwork on belief systems and rituals in Mexico and Guatemala, since 2005 also in Cuba. In 2011 earned his PhD degree with distinction at the Institute of Religious Studies, Jagiellonian University, earlier he graduated in philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University. He lectured at Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social and Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico), as well as at Goethe Universität, and Universität Bonn (Germany). Published books Wiedźmy, święte i boginie. Postać kobiety w wierzeniach Indian z gór Zongolica w Meksyku (Witches, Saints, and Goddesses. Female Figure in Indigenous Beliefs from Sierra Zongolica, Mexico) i Podmiejskim do Indian. Reportaże z Meksyku (The Native Traffic. Reports from Mexico).

 

Academic interests

  • contemporary and pre-Columbian beliefs in Middle America,
  • syncretic processes and semiotics of culture,
  • goddesses in myths and metaphysical systems,
  • witches and spells in anthropology, history and folklore studies.

Selected publications

  • 2016, Paradoja descarnada: el culto a la Santa Muerte desde la perspectiva semiótica [in:] La Santa Muerte. Espacios, cultos y devociones A.Hernández (ed.), San Luis Potosí, p. 85-107.
  • 2016, Die abgehängten Beine. Nagualismus und Hexerei in der Folklore der Nahuas aus der Sierra Zongolica, „Anthropos" No 111 (2), p. 449-463. 
  • 2014, Elementy duchowe w wierzeniach rdzennych Nahua z gór Zongolica w Meksyku, „Prace Etnograficzne", No 1 (42), p. 79-94. 
  • 2014, Zinacantán: dzieje różu i błękitu [in:] M. Furmanik-Kowalska i J. Wasilewska (ed.) Strój, zwierciadło kultury, Warszawa-Toruń, p. 233-238. 
  • 2013, Wiedźmy, święte i boginie. Postać kobieca w wierzeniach Indian z gór Zongolica w Meksyku, Kraków. 
  • 2013, „Serce Ziemi". Mityczna kraina Tlalokan w narracjach Nahua z gór Zongolica w Meksyku, „Literatura Ludowa", No 2 (57), p. 39-46. 
  • 2012, The Meaning of Death: Semiotic Approach to Analysis of Syncretic Processes in the Cult of Santa Muerte, „Proceedings of the 10th World Congress of the International Association for Semiotic Studies (IASS/AIS)", A Coruña. 
  • 2011, Death with a Bonus Pack: New Age Spirituality, Folk Catholicism and the Cult of Santa Muerte, „Archives de sciences sociales des religions", No 153, p. 159-182.

Research projects

  • 2018, research project Schicksalsdoppelgänger in der mythischen Weltanschauung der einstigen und heutigen Nahua aus Mexiko im Licht der traditionellen Medizin conducted at Abteilung für Altamerikanistik (Universität Bonn, Germany) funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst.
  • 2015-2017, research project Impact of globalization on syncretic processes in contemporary religiosity exemplified by Mexican folk Catholicism and Cuban Santeria, funded by Narodowe Centrum Nauki.
  • 2014, research project La religiosidad popular contemporánea en Yucatán conducted at CIESAS Peninsular (Mérida, Mexico) funded by Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores within the framework of the "Genaro Estrada" program for  Experts in Mexican Studies.

Other achievements

  • 2016, Book Podmiejskim do Indian. Reportaże z Meksyku nominated for the „Złota Róża” Award of the Science Festival in Warsaw and the Polish Book Institute for the best Polish popular science book which contributes to reliable popularization of scientific knowledge and is written in an outstanding literary form
  • 2015, Book Wiedźmy, święte i boginie. Postać kobieca w wierzeniach Indian z gór Zongolica w Meksyku won the I. Domeyko Award of the Polish Society for Latin American Studies for the best PHD dissertation published as a monograph
  • 2011, Visiting Professor position at the Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (Xalapa, Mexico)
  • 2007-2014, Numerous research expeditions undertaken in Mexico and Guatemala, funded by the Mexican Government (SRE)
  • 2009, scholarship awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) (stay in Spain).

Hobbies

  • graphic novels,
  • screen stories,
  • martial arts.