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Rules of Magic

Rules of Magic. James Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890) Law of Contagion Objects that were once in contact continue to be connected after that connection is severed. A “ psychic connection/footprint. ”

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Rules of Magic

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  1. Rules of Magic • James Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890) • Law of Contagion • Objects that were once in contact continue to be connected after that connection is severed. A “psychic connection/footprint.” • Ex: The Fore, Sorcery & Kuru. Food remnants, hair, nail clippings, excrement of victim mixed with leaves/stones bundle placed into the cold, muddy ground, symbolizing deep chill of Kuru. Bundle beaten with a stick, symbolizing breaking/weakening of bones.

  2. Rules of Magic • James Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890) • The Law of Sympathy • Magic depends on the apparent association or agreement between things • Law of Similarity • Things that are alike are the same • Ex: The Azande: root of fruit w/ milky sap given to women who have troubles lactating • Ex: Ancient Egypt & Rome: Bes Jars

  3. Rules of Magic Law of Sympathy cont. • Law of Similarity • Homeopathic Magic • Based on the Law of Similarity. There is a causal relationship between things that appear to be similar. • Image Magic • Create an image to represent an animal/person, who then can be killed/injured by doing something to the image • Ex: “Voodoo doll” • Increase Rite among Australian Aborigines: fertility rituals that function to facilitate the successful reproduction of the Totem animal. Seen as essential to an animal’s life cycle. Involve dance and painting of the body • Doctrine of Signatures labeled “alternative medicine” in the U.S.: The belief that signs telling of a plant’s medical use are somehow embedded within the structure and nature of the plant itself. • Ex: Red Cloverhead & sap of the Bloodroot used to treat problems of the blood. • Ex: Boneset plant used to set broken bones and cure fever/cough/cold

  4. . • Law of Contagion • Contagious Magic • Based on the Law of Contagion, utilizing things that once were in physical contact with an individual • Ex: Rabbit’s foot • Ex: New Guinea. A wound caused by an arrow is medicated by a salve. This salve is also spread over the arrow which caused the wound. • Ex: Particular type of clothing worn to exams?

  5. Logic/Science: The juxtaposition of two events does not necessarily imply causality. Ex: Breaking a mirror or a black cat crossing one’s path does not necessarily equate with bad luck. If believe bad luck will occur, will be hypersensitive to even the most minute manifestation. “Bad luck” is then easily recognized and attributed to the offending initial event/object. Why does Magic work?

  6. Magic appears to work, because the actions requested will often occur naturally Ex: Magic to bring rain after the dry season, to enable crops to grow. Aztec practice of feeding the sun so it won’t expire. Why does Magic work?

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