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 connectionfootprint Ex The Fore Sorcery amp ID: 579398
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Rules of Magic
James Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890)Law of ContagionObjects 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.Slide2
Rules of Magic
James Frazer, The Golden Bough (1890)The Law of SympathyMagic depends on the apparent association or agreement between thingsLaw of SimilarityThings that are alike are the sameEx: The Azande: root of fruit w/ milky sap given to women who have troubles lactatingEx: Ancient Egypt & Rome: Bes JarsSlide3
Law of Similarity
Homeopathic MagicBased on the Law of Similarity. There is a causal relationship between things that appear to be similar.Image MagicCreate an image to represent an animal/person, who then can be killed/injured by doing something to the imageEx: “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
Rules of Magic
Law of Sympathy cont.Slide4
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Law of ContagionContagious MagicBased on the Law of Contagion, utilizing things that once were in physical contact with an individualEx: Rabbit’s footEx: 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?Slide5
Why does Magic work?
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.Slide6
Why does Magic work?
Magic appears to work, because the actions requested will often occur naturallyEx: Magic to bring rain after the dry season, to enable crops to grow. Aztec practice of feeding the sun so it won’t expire.