Dr Amy Whitehead staff profile picture

Contact details +6492136846

Dr Amy Whitehead PhD

Senior Lecturer

Doctoral Supervisor
School of People, Environment and Planning

I am an Anthropologist of Religion/Religious Studies scholar. I gained my PhD at the Open University in the UK. My primary areas of research concern the material and performance cultures of religions, the onotological turn, and the ‘turn to things’ in the study of religions, the development of new approaches to animism and ‘the fetish’, Indigenous religions, the social lives, of plants, ritual studies, festivals, healing and Earth Traditions (Paganisms, Goddess movements). My regional expertise includes Spain, the UK, the Appalachia religion of the southern US, and Cuba. I am interested in how material cultures articulate political and social processes/dynamics. I am currently writing a book called Plants and Religion: A Planthropology (forthcoming Bloomsbury, 2026), and I invite inquires from potential doctoral students regarding these areas of interest (or related). 

I gained my PhD from the Open University in the UK in 2011 in the Study of Religions. I have since become a Social Anthropologist of Religion with regional expertise in Spain, Cuba, the UK, and the Appalachian region of the southern US. My research areas include material cultures, rituals and performances, human-enviornment relations, including the personhood of plants and other non-human beings, healing traditions, and Indigenous religions. 

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Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: +64 (09) 414 0800 ext, 43846
    Location: AT2.26, Atrium Building
    Campus: Auckland

Qualifications

  • Masters Degree - Bath Spa University (2014)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - The Open University (2011)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Supervisor, Massey University

Prizes and Awards

  • Strategic Research Excellence Fund - College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Massey (2021)
  • Judge for the ‘Leonard Norman Primiano book Prize on Vernacular Catholicism’ - American Folklore Society (2023)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

My areas of expertise broadly include the material and performance cultures of religions, indigenous religions, vernacular and lived religions, ritual, and the personhood of religious 'objects'. I am concerned with things as they sit at the heart of communities, and around which traditions take place and are maintained. 

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Cultural Studies (200200): Cultural Theory (200204):
Curatorial and Related Studies (210200): Curatorial and Related Studies not elsewhere classified (210299): Heritage and Cultural Conservation (210202): History And Archaeology (210000):
Languages, Communication And Culture (200000):
Materials Conservation (210203): Museum Studies (210204):
Other Philosophy and Religious Studies (229900): Philosophy And Religious Studies (220000): Religion and Religious Studies (220400)

Keywords

Religion and Material Cultures, Ritual and Performance Studies, Vernacular Religion, Indigenous Religions, New Religious Movements/Alternative Religions, Human-environment Relations, New Animism Research, Plants and Culture

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 0 1

Research Outputs

Journal

Whitehead, A., & Letcher, A. (2023). ‘We’ll All Dance each Springtime with Jack-in-the-Green’ The ‘Green Man Complex’ in Contemporary British Culture. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture. 17(2), 228-252
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2022). La Virgen de Regla: A Material Approach to Lived Religious Transformation in Latin America. Interdisciplinary Journal for Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society. 24(1), 1-20
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2020). A method of ‘things’: a relational theory of objects as persons in lived religious practice. Journal of Contemporary Religion. 35(2), 231-250 Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2020.1759902
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2019). Indigenizing the Goddess: Reclaiming Territory, Myth and Devotion in Glastonbury. International Journal for the Study of New Religions. 9(2), 215-233 Retrieved from https://journal.equinoxpub.com/IJSNR/article/view/13569
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2019). Touching, crafting, knowing: religious artefacts and the new fetishism. Body and Religion. 2(2), 224-244 Retrieved from https://journal.equinoxpub.com/BAR/article/view/7759
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2018). Devotional Bodies, Working Shrines: the dynamics of devotion in a Marian Shrine. Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft. 13(2), 212-230 Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/711121
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2016). Conference Report: ‘Material Religion: Embodiment, Materiality, Technology. Material Religion: the journal of objects, art and belief. 13(1), 530-532
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2013). Hair Offerings,the Gift and Giving of Devotion. Material Religion: the journal of objects, art and belief. 9(1), 131-133
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2011). Gift Giving and Power Perspectives: Testing the role of statue devotion in England and Spain. Diskus: The Journal of the British Association for the Study of Religions. 12, 24-37
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2010). Pagans and Things: Idolatry or Materiality?. The Pomegranate: the international journal of Pagan studies. 12(1), 93-102
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2009). The Goddess and the Virgin: Materiality in Western Europe. The Pomegranate: the international journal of Pagan studies. 10(1), 163-183
[Journal article]Authored by: Whitehead, A.

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Book

Chryssides, GD., & Whitehead, AR. (2022). CONCEPTS IN PRACTICE. In Contested Concepts in the Study of Religion: a Critical Exploration. (pp. 153 - 158).
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2022). Introduction. In AR. Whitehead, & GD. Chryssides (Eds.) Contested Concepts in the Study of Religion: A Critical Exploration. London: Bloosmbury
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, AR. (2022). SUPERSTITION. In Contested Concepts in the Study of Religion: a Critical Exploration. (pp. 123 - 128).
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
(2022). CONTESTED CONCEPTS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION: A CRITICAL EXPLORATION.
[Edited Book]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Contributed to by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Macrae, G. (2021). The Senses and Their Absences in Balinese and Tamil Hinduisms. In C. Welch, & A. Whitehead (Eds.) Religion and Touch. (pp. 137 - 153). : Equinox
[Chapter]Edited by: Whitehead, A.

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Andrews, R. (2021). Being There: Anglo-Indian Roots Tourism Experiences. In C. Welch, & A. Whitehead (Eds.) Religion and Touch. (pp. 114 - 134). United Kingdom: Equinox eBooks Publishing
[Chapter]Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A., & Bayarri, G. (2021). Accommodating Crisis: Exploring the Dynamics of Touch and Material Devotion in Alcalá de los Gazules. In A. Whitehead, & C. Welch (Eds.) Religion and Touch. (pp. 67 - 92). Sheffield: Equinox
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A., & Welch, C. (2021). Introduction. In A. Whitehead, & C. Welch (Eds.) Religion and Touch. (pp. 1 - 21). Sheffield: Equinox
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A., & Welch, C. (Eds.) (2021). Religion and Touch. Sheffield: Equinox
[Edited Book]Contributed to by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, AR. (2020). Appalachian animism: Religion, the woods, and the material presence of the mountain. In Space, Place, and Religious Landscapes: Living Mountains. (pp. 147 - 170).
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2020). Indigenizing the Goddess: Reclaiming Territory, Myth and Devotion in Glastonbury. In G. Harvey (Ed.) Indigenising Movements in Europe. (pp. 51 - 69). Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing Ltd
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2019). Sacred Space and Sacred Objects. In GD. Chryssides, & SE. Gregg (Eds.) The Bloomsbury Handbook to Studying Christians. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Academic
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2018). Touching, Crafting, Knowing: Religious Artefacts and the Fetish within Animism. In G. Harvey, & J. Hughes (Eds.) Sensual Religion: Religion and the Five Senses. (pp. 215 - 236). Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing Ltd
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, AR. (2018). Religious objects: Uncomfortable relations and an ontological turn to things. In M. Astor-Aguilera, & G. Harvey (Eds.) Rethinking Relations and Animism: personhood and materiality. (pp. 75 - 93). London, United Kingdom: Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A., & Harvey, G. (Eds.) (2018). Indigenous Religions: Critical Concepts in Religious Studies. (Vol. 1-4): Routlege
[Edited Book]Authored by: Whitehead, A.Edited by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2016). Enchanted matter: the unpredictability of devotion. In M. Broo, P. Ingman, T. Hovi, & T. Utriainen (Eds.) The Relational Dynamics of Enchantment and Sacralization: Changing the Terms of the Religion versus Secularity Debate. (pp. 45 - 64). London: Equinox
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2015). An English Shade of Animism: Contemporary Statue Devotion and the Glastonbury Goddess Religion. In T. Jones, & L. Matthews-Jones (Eds.) Material Religion in Modern Britain: The Spirit of Things. (pp. 209 - 224). : Palgrave MacMillan
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2014). The new fetishism: Western statue devotion and a matter of power. In G. Harvey (Ed.) The Handbook of Contemporary Animism. (pp. 260 - 270). : Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A.(2013). Religious Statues and Personhood Testing the Role of Materiality. : A&C Black
[Authored Book]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Conference

Whitehead, A.Marian personhood and a matter of power: animism and the dynamics of devotion in Andalusia, Spain. . Bialystok, Poland
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A.Food, Feasting and Everyday Religion in Auckland's religious cultures. . Raglan
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A.The Material Cultures of Spiritualism. . Milton Keynes, UK
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Indigenizing the Goddess: reclaiming territory, myth and devotion in Glastonbury. . Bern, Swizerland
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Devotional body, working shrine: ritual dynamics and power-making narrativies in a Spanish Marian shrine. . Chester, UK
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.

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Whitehead, A.Material Religion: An overview. . Wolverhampton, UK
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Vernacular Religion: a method of 'things'. . Erfurt, Germany
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Panel Presider. . Durham, North Carolina (Duke Univeristy), USA
[Conference Other]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Fetish 'things': personhood, power, and uncomfortable relations. . Denver, Colorado, USA
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Vernacular Reigion and materiality, Religion and Pluralities of Knowledge. . Groningen, The Netherlands
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Alternative Pilgrimage, Religion and Pluralities of Knowledge. . Groningen, The Netherlands
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A.Religious Statues and Performance: personhood, devotion, and a matter of power. . Durham, UK
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Whitehead, A.

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Other

Whitehead, A. (2023). Materiality and the Study of Indigenous Religions.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
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Whitehead, A. (2021). The Shrine of Nuestra Senora de lost Santos in Andalusia, Spain. : Gods' Collections
[Internet publication]Authored by: Whitehead, A.
Whitehead, A. (2021). Glastonbury Goddess Religion. : World Religions and Spirituality Project
[Internet publication]Authored by: Whitehead, A.

Consultancy and Languages

Consultancy

  • May 2017 to February 2018 - The Open University
    Research Consultant for the project 'Making Spiritual Communities' in England and Scotland

Languages

  • Spanish
    Last used: Today
    Spoken ability: Average
    Written ability: Excellent

Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0
Co-supervisor 1 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Jacqueline Watt - Doctor of Philosophy
    The Whakapapa of Contemporary Fire Poi

Co-supervisor of:

  • Maria Ross - Doctor of Philosophy
    Turning off the plastics tap in Aotearoa New Zealand? Supermarket responses to multilevel plastic pollution policy and legislation governing single-use plastic packaging.

Media and Links

Media

  • 28 Oct 2022 - Newspaper
    Real New Zealand witches say this not the true Hal
    Expert Contributor
  • 14 Apr 2022 - Newspaper
    Why is Easter’s mascot a bunny? And where did it g
    Stuff news article expert contributor