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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?

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