Aloha,
mandrake wrote:
>thanks - really useful wondering though what that the academic
definition of a silly effort at >revival?
The other day I browsed through a big book detailing the characters,
cast, and staging of the Broadway and West end musical "Wicked," based
on the Gregory Maguire book of the same title. The musical, detailing the
life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West, turns out to be an
intricate
and complex project with lots of costly props and stage effects.
Just about any amateur and some professional productions might,
compared to the standards and achievements of the West's paramount
productions, be called "silly!' by some.
What I'm getting at is that Neo-Pagan revivalists do not and probably
cannot achieve the sorts of productions that a theme-focused academic
can imagine that the ancient productions did. So the revivals might seem
"silly!' to that academic.
Even when the Neo-Pagan revivals are sincere.
Of course, another reason a theme-focused academic might condemn
today's revival is that it pays insufficient attention to the details of
his own work.
As one who values academic details, it's been difficult sometimes for me to
get that revival efforts often have to proceed on a fairly broad road
that simplifies or ignores academic details in order to achieve other,
but important, results. The very accessibility of the Matronae as spiritual
presences, for instance.
Lastly, I have witnessed some Neo-Pagan revivals of old-time rituals
based on probably as good academic details as could be found. Usually
put together by some of the academics themselves. Effective. Educational.
And faithful to the historical culture being revived. Not big budget,
either.
Still, some might consider it beneath professorial dignity and "silly!"
Musing Myself, I'm Taking The Python Route &
Following The Ministry Of Silly Ritual Revivals! Rose,
Pitch
silly Neo-Pagan, tickled by Coyote
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