Monica Black
Monica Black is a historian and professor specializing in modern German history, with a particular focus on the social and cultural history of 20th-century Germany. She is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research interests include the history of Germany after 1945, the history of medicine and magic, and the ways in which societies deal with histories of violence and trauma.
Her book, 'A Demon-Haunted Land: Witches, Wonder Doctors, and the Ghosts of the Past in Post-WWII Germany', explores the supernatural and occult phenomena that surged in popularity in Germany after the devastation of World War II. Through her work, Black investigates how these phenomena reflected the social anxieties and cultural negotiations of Germans during the postwar period. The book has been well-received for its insightful analysis into how folklore and supernatural beliefs can influence the reconstruction of societal norms and identities after a crisis.
Beyond her work on postwar Germany, Monica Black has also contributed to various scholarly discussions and publications on topics related to European history, the history of religion and belief systems, and the intersections of history and memory. Her scholarly work continues to shed light on the less explored, yet culturally significant aspects of German history.