A History of Ghosts

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A History of Ghosts: 9. 20th-Century Poltergeist

20th Century Poltergeist

9. 20th-Century Poltergeist

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Kirsty Logan explores how the poltergeist changed in the 20th century.

Kirsty Logan explores how the poltergeist changed in the 20th century, and how, often, something more terrible than ghosts haunts those at the centre of a poltergeist case.

Illustration by Seonaid Mackay.

'Once a door is open, it’s difficult to close, even if we try.'

Poltergeists, noisy spirits, have been reported since antiquity. But in the 20th century, the idea of what the poltergeist was changed in collective culture. When, in the past, reported poltergeist activity would be put down to outside, supernatural beings, in the 20th century supposed poltergeist activity was said to come from within a living being: the psyche made physical.

Kirsty tells the story of three famous 20th century poltergeist cases, exploring what happens to the person at the centre, and discovering how the attention from investigators and the media can be more damaging than any ghost.

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Kirsty Logan explores the evolution of Ghost Lore.

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9. 20th-Century Poltergeist

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