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. 2025;44(4):345-363.
doi: 10.1080/01459740.2025.2505657. Epub 2025 Jul 1.

Scarecrows: Supernatural Sentinels Against COVID-19 in Cambodia

Maurice Eisenbruch  1   2   3
Affiliations

Scarecrows: Supernatural Sentinels Against COVID-19 in Cambodia

Maurice Eisenbruch. Med Anthropol. 2025.

Abstract
in English, Khmer

Responses to the threat of COVID-19 have unveiled the underlying cultural theories of contagion across various countries. In Cambodia, erecting scarecrows has emerged as a popular response. This ethnographic study on contagious diseases and cultural deathscapes, which included participant observation with 185 informants, revealed that the human perception of scarecrows was less significant than the perception of ghosts that these scarecrows were intended to repel. To serve as effective sentinels, these scarecrows must appear menacing and be well armed. These observations offer insights into the cultural construction of contagion, threat, and defense in the context of an epidemic or a pandemic.

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Keywords: Apotropaic methods; COVID-19 response; Cambodia; cultural theory of contagion; epidemics; scarecrows.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Dong Chay and his scarecrow carrying a club on its right shoulder, in position, ready to fire like a rocket launcher at any enemy including the COVID-19 virus. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Syn Sovady’s scarecrow brandishing an oversize ax, with the column of Sovady’s protective spirit house partially visible to its left. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Scarecrow made of a zinc sheet rather than hay, with a ghost inscribed on it in white quicklime. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Karn Lim standing alongside his “foreigner scarecrow” dressed in modern clothing. As the head and torso alone were salvaged, the scarecrow was mounted on a chair. Despite having only the upper half, being made of plastic, it was considered more durable than most other scarecrows. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Mak Houng with his full-length male mannequin scarecrow (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Chuon Samon’s helmeted crimson-faced scarecrow, its huge eyes capable of seeing the marauding ghost. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Mao Phirom’s “engineer scarecrow” had no need for rudimentary weaponry as the engineer’s skill was used to restrain COVID-19 and other kinds of magical danger. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
A spy plane and bomber fashioned from bottles made by Karn Lim and suspended from electricity cables in front of his house. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Nol Sorn’s “schoolgirl Cyclist scarecrow” replete with a helmet and schoolbag draped over her shoulder. (Photograph Chou Sam Ath).
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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