fetishism
Sign in to saveA fetish (also spelled fetich) is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a human-made object that has power over others. Essentially, fetishism is the attribution of inherent non-material value, or powers, to an object. Talismans and amulets are related. Fetishes are often used in spiritual or religious context.
AI overview
A fetish is an object that people believe has supernatural or special powers, typically used in spiritual or religious practices. Fetishism is the broader practice of attributing non-material value or powers to physical objects, similar to how talismans and amulets are believed to work.
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11 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Historiography
- Practice
- Japan
- Philippines
- DR Congo
- See also
- Notes and references
- Notes
- References
- External links
A fetish (also spelled fetich) is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a human-made object that has power over others. Essentially, fetishism is the attribution of inherent non-material value, or powers, to an object. Talismans and amulets are related. Fetishes are often used in spiritual or religious context.
== Etymology == The word fetish derives from the French , which comes from the Portuguese or fetisso ("spell"), which in turn derives from a Latin root. However, there is some disagreement regarding which Latin root. William Pietz points to ("to make"). On the other hand, philosopher Charles De Brosses, who is cited as the source of the term "fetishism," traces the etymology to the various Latin roots fatum, fanum, and fari. Some scholars suggest that "the instability in its linguistic origins is symptomatic of the concept's ambivalence, its lack of distinction between that which is enchanted and that which is fabricated or artificial."