With Magic We Play : Pop Cultural Elements Within Modern Magical Practice
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | The practice of magic in contemporary society is truly a dynamic, ever evolving phenomenon. Next to the more traditional teachings, new forms of magic were emerging for several past decades. The rise of Chaos Magick marked the probably most important transition towards “DIY” magic, defined by the non-traditional, non-hierarchical, experimental, and often playful practices. With the idea behind it being to apply what resonates the most with the practitioners, characters, worlds, and practices from popular culture started to play a significant role in the ritual design. According to my respondents, sometimes the more “traditional” deities or spirits are not something the practitioners can associate themselves with, and thus they search for more emotionally, or aesthetically relatable alternatives. The warrior Kratos, from the God of War series, the electrical rodent Pikachu from the Pokemon franchise, or even the singers Lady Gaga or Dolly Parton are being included into the rituals, serving as servitors representing certain associated traits or archetypes. In similar fashion several chaotes (the practitioners of Chaos Magick) use astral travel to visit fictional worlds inspired by video games, or anime. In this presentation I will focus on examples of magic that implements pop-cultural phenomena, from the theoretical foundation to the practical usage. In chosen case studies, I will show the progression in modern magical practice and the importance of the narrative and aesthetic function of popular culture within the contemporary esoteric milieu. |
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