Anna,
I don't think that there's a good definition of magic. In Western civilization, it was originally a category meant to distinguish illicit practices from orthodox faith while putting most of the emphasis on the latter. The more magical writing I examine, the more I realize that distinctions like "supplication vs. compelling" or "licit vs. illicit" really don't work when they come to magic as actually used across cultures and time. A great number of articles I've read have handwaved the definition of magic entirely and then gone on to write about a particular phenomenon that they themselves witnessed, looking at it within that particular context only.
My advice would be to figure out how your informants/consultants define religion and magic. Look at what they define in their corpus under each category. Then look at Tylor, Frazer, Malinowski, Mauss, Tambiah, Glucklich, and Johnathon Z. Smith (that spelling is likely off) for their definitions. Put them in a footnote so your committee knows you covered your bases, then state that your on-the-ground experience indicates that pat scholarly definitions cannot hope to deal with the nebulous and sometimes contradictory use of the term that you witnessed in the field. You're all set.
Now, I'm off to write a chapter proposal on... um, magic. Oh boy.
Dan Harms
Coordinator of Instruction Librarian
State University of New York - Cortland
Memorial Library B-110
(607) - 753-4042
________________________________
From: Society for The Academic Study of Magic on behalf of anna hudson
Sent: Sun 8/13/2006 12:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Mapping Hel
Hi - I dn't mean to be stupid... ut what is the definition of magic?? As far as i can gather it is no different really from prayer or more trdaitional ritualistic behviour in a religious context. I am an anthropologist and am doing my dissertation on witchcraft ( however one may want to define that) an am becoming more and more confused perplexed and intrigued. There are so many definitions that that the notion of defining it seems rediculous. Any comments?? Guidance??? Personal thoughts? All would be greatly appreciated. I love this subject but want to really dig my teeth in. Personally, having been brought up semi-christian, then dabbling born - again, then loosing faith if i ever got it, this is a better more true and 'me' path to lead. i am struggling with where to turn personally an academically. Any help would be a blessing.
BB,
Annaxx
________________________________
From: mina <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Society for The Academic Study of Magic <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Mapping Hel
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 07:25:38 +0900
Dear Caroline and Caelim,
It is interesting.
I also interested in spiritualism.
Now, I am preparing for publishing about the hidden meanigns of magic poetry. I want to open the great magician and poet's magic poetry meanings.
It is miracle in the world and it shows to coming New Age.
I really hope to open it with his prophecy for coming New Age.
Regards,
Mina
Caroline Tully <[log in to unmask]> ¾²±â:
Hi Caelim,
>>Well, I just received an enthusiastic letter of interest from our
>>publisher (Inner Traditions) for our next book: Mapping Hel: A
>>Geographical Study in 5 Cultures On Where We Go When We Die.<<
That sounds exciting, particularly as I am currently studying Underworld and
Afterlife (Greek and Roman) as part of my Grad Dip in Classics &
Archaeology. Also, on an additional note, I too have some publishing news
for 2007. I've contributed a chapter on the figure of Roman witch, Erichtho,
who appears in Lucan's epic poem, "Civil War", to a book coming out from
Disinformation www.disinfo.com edited by Russ Kick and tentatively called
"Everything You Know About Religion is Wrong". I'm thrilled to be included
of course.
~Caroline.
p4.vert.ukl.yahoo.com uncompressed/chunked Fri Aug 11 22:28:27 GMT 2006
________________________________
180° ´Þ¶óÁø ¾ßÈÄ! ¸ÞÀÏ
½Å¼¼´ë ¸ÞÀÏ? ÀÌÁ¦ »õ·Î¿î ¾ßÈÄ! ¸ÞÀÏ <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_kr/taglines/mail1/*http://kr.content.mail.yahoo.com/cgland> ¿¡¼ ¸¸³ªº¸¼¼¿ä.
________________________________
Hotmail is evolving - be one of the first to try the Windows Live(tm) Mail Beta <http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUK/2737??PS=47575>
|