Astrology as Community: A Dissertation
This is the blog post version of the dissertation I submitted during the final year of my Bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics. The language used is very academic, but don’t be scared! I explore what it means to be part of the astrology community in our day and age from a social science perspective. Working on this paper and interviewing seasoned astrologers brought me a lot of joy, and I hope it does for you too!
Abstract
This dissertation aims to explore the recent revival of astrology in the form of a digital culture, and its ties to consumption and the formation of online communities. Initially a niche current of spirituality that took off in modern times after a surge of interest in the 1970s, astrology has gained increasing popularity among the younger generation since the early 2010s and the democratisation of the Internet.
In this paper, I will discuss the links between neoliberal consumers' habits and their impact on the way young people consume astrology, the quest for spiritual meaning and a sense of belonging that have contributed to astrology's recent renaissance, as well as the specific role played by the Internet and online communities in this revival. I will also discuss the challenges and caveats that are specific to this community while showing it is a good case study for understanding what is at stake in the formation of spiritual communities on the Internet.
Drawing on theoretical sources as well as interviews conducted with three professional astrologers, this dissertation will question the dichotomy between the concepts of materiality and spirituality, and demonstrate how astrologers — professionals and enthusiasts alike — create innovative digital spaces which disrupt these ideas and propose radical new ways of envisioning language, consumption, and spiritual beliefs through astrology.
Access the full PDF here: Astrology as Community Dissertation PDF
You can cite this work as: “Regnault de Montgon, H. (2021). Astrology as Community: Globalised Astrological Practices and Consumption in the West in the Age of Digital Culture [Undegraduate dissertation, London School of Economics].