Aloha,
Thinking about this a little more, it occurs to me that by and large
Neo-Paganism belongs to and participates in contemporary popular
culture. What we are talking about when we contrast *pop wicca*
with its more elegant and refined cousins (I've seen the terms *witch-crap*
vs. *witch-craft* used here) is very much the conversations or
arguments of fans.
The descriptive typologies of culture that I'd use pretty much assign Neo-
Paganism to the *little,* *lowbrow*, and *pop.* Puzzle though I might, I
can't come up with much Neo-Paganism that's more than middlebrow.
There's not much, if anything, *great*, *highbrow*, or *sophisticated*
about Neo-Paganism. It's not a (sub)culture rained down from the
aristocracy
onto the peasantry. Or from the enlightened few onto the bedimmed many.
It is, however, a (sub)culture marketed and hyped and buzzed to the
consuming masses.
I don't mean to suggest that Neo-Paganism lacks purpose or profundity
on occasion.
But by and large it is a movement and an enthusiasm in a culture in which
things are valued when on the move and fashion is held to be a true measure
of
maturity. You know, sizzle and glitter over steak and sustenance, crazy
cocktails
rather than heady draughts, looks over sound structures, and talking heads
rather than intelligent souls.
Musing How Lowbrow Can A Good Witch Go? Or,
Does *High* Culture Just Blow Smoke? Rose,
Pitch
<<If organized religion is the opium of the masses, then disorganized
religion
is the marijuana of the lunatic fringe.>>
—Kerry Thornley in the introduction to the 5th edition of Principia
Discordia
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