Superstition Sam: Exploring the potential of creativity and wellbeing in heritage and folklore
Superstition Sam is a research blog exploring the intersections of heritage, folklore, creativity and wellbeing, marked by an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and involvement – a term I use to describe genuine inclusion, drawing inspiration from the Social Model of Disability.
Image description: an infographic proposing the intersectionality of heritage, wellbeing, creativity and folklore. Image credit: Joana Varanda/Superstition Sam.
Progressively adopted in the museum and heritage sectors, the Social Model of Disability is a vital framework for identifying that systemic barriers (such as in-person events or academic language) are the reason why disabled people are often excluded from full participation in society – even more so than by their own individual conditions. As such, instead of expecting each individual to either adapt or be ‘cured’, the Social Model of Disability places the responsibility on institutions to create more equitable spaces, thereby ensuring that marginalised communities are active collaborators involved in the co-creation process, rather than appearing as mere tokenistic presences.
Image description: an infographic proposing a difference between inclusion and involvement. Image credit: Joana Varanda/Superstition Sam.
In the same spirit, and alongside increased accessibility, Superstition Sam proposes that the future of folklore and folkloristics rests on adopting a broader interdisciplinary approach, drawing from disciplines such as museum studies, heritage theory and psychology – acknowledging that folklore can serve as a powerful tool to bring communities closer together, especially through storytelling, psychomotor therapies, or ritual practice. Likewise, philosophy may also have a place, particularly Existentialism, since it may help us to accept folklore as both a personal and communal meaning-making process in an otherwise meaningless world.
Image description: a photo composition depicting the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s exterior, alongside a gravestone bearing the name Joan Wytte. Image credit: Joana Varanda/Superstition Sam.
A striking example of this, recently discussed on the Superstition Sam blog, is the case of Joan Wytte, whose alleged remains were once on display at the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle for several decades. With evidence of her existence proven scarce however, it is likely that Cecil Williamson, the museum’s founder, fabricated her story in order to appeal to communities already grappling with historical trauma. And yet, over time, these communities have reclaimed Joan’s tale, effectively transforming ‘forced knowledge’ into folklore through a creative, collective process of meaning-making – while highlighting that authenticity can be subjective, especially when used to confront difficult histories and foster healing.
Image description: an infographic proposing the ethos of the Superstition Sam project. Image credit: Joana Varanda/Superstition Sam.
In summary, Superstition Sam and the zine Salt & Mirrors & Cats are experimental spaces where the inclusive potential of creativity and participatory practice to positively engage both underrepresented and established audiences is explored. Supporting the Social Model of Disability, with these projects I aim to demonstrate that accessibility is a shared responsibility – and that greater empathy and collaboration are essential to create truly involving folklore communities that celebrate everyone’s lived experiences, rather than remaining just another reflection of our society’s competitive or exclusionary norms.
Joana Varanda,
Founder of Superstition Sam and Salt & Mirrors & Cats.