Witchcraft on the Screen and on the Page
Pagan performance-studies scholar Jason Winslade is interviewed at the TheoFantastique blog on Witchcraft and the entertainment industry:
Let me first say that I have a hard time coming up with any examples of “real witchcraft” or “real magic” in television or films. As you rightly state in your blog, any portrayals of these phenomena are inevitably fantasy with fancy special effects and things flying around. Any practitioner will tell you that this does not happen. At least they do not in the waking world. (Of course, this begs the question what “real magic” actually is – ask 3 practitioners and you’ll get 5 answers. Certainly "real" magic, with the exception of ritual, is much more of an internal process, and thus doesn’t lend itself to special effects extravaganzas). Some programs may incorporate sound magickal philosophy and metaphysics but their application is ultimately fantastical.
TheoFantastique is written by John Morehead, who also writes Morehead's Musings, where he has a special interest in Christian evangelism to new religious movements.
Let me first say that I have a hard time coming up with any examples of “real witchcraft” or “real magic” in television or films. As you rightly state in your blog, any portrayals of these phenomena are inevitably fantasy with fancy special effects and things flying around. Any practitioner will tell you that this does not happen. At least they do not in the waking world. (Of course, this begs the question what “real magic” actually is – ask 3 practitioners and you’ll get 5 answers. Certainly "real" magic, with the exception of ritual, is much more of an internal process, and thus doesn’t lend itself to special effects extravaganzas). Some programs may incorporate sound magickal philosophy and metaphysics but their application is ultimately fantastical.
TheoFantastique is written by John Morehead, who also writes Morehead's Musings, where he has a special interest in Christian evangelism to new religious movements.
Labels: Christianity, movies, Paganism, Witchcraft, Writing
posted by Chas S. Clifton at 4:24 PM Permalink
3 Comments:
Chas, thank you for mentioning the interview on your blog. I hope that your readers find it informative and thought provoking.
I was struck by your description of me as a Christian with an interest in sharing the pathway of Jesus rather than as a Christian scholar and writer. It was a reminder that the Christian commitment to communicating the message of Jesus with an eye toward others embracing it as well is frequently a sticking point in Christian-Pagan relations, and hopefully one we can overcome through continued dialogue.
Thanks again for mentioning the interview on your blog. Winslade and I welcome feedback.
Maybe it is your frequent reference to missiology and phrases such as "Application of cross-cultural missions methodology" on the "Musings" blog that makes me think of you primarily as an evangelist.
I did think the "Sanguinarium" episode of The X-Files offered an effective portrayal of a Wiccan working magic in a very realistic way...although the rest of the episode used plenty of supernatural, fantasy effects and imagery...
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