Section outline

  • Week XV (April 28 & 30) - Definitions and Theory

     

    Topics:

    ·      defining magic

    ·      magic and religion; magic and science

    ·      performative language and symbolic systems

    ·      conclusions

     

    Readings:

    ·      Smith, Trading Places

    ·      Tambiah, Form and Meaning of Magical Acts

    ·      Versnel, Some Reflections on the Relationship

     

    Supplementary Readings:

    ·      Aune, Magic in Early Christianity

    ·      Betz, Magic and Mystery – Magika Hiera ch. 9

    ·      Braarvig, Magic: Reconsidering the Grand Dichotomy

    ·      Collins, Nature, Cause, and Agency

    ·      Edmonds, Extra-Ordinary People

    ·      Fowler, Greek Magic, Greek Religion

    ·      Gordon, Aelian's Peony

    ·      Gordon, Imagining Greek and Roman Magic

    ·      Segal, Hellenistic Magic: Some Questions of Definition

    ·      Smith, Here, There, and Anywhere

    ·      Thomassen, Is Magic a Subclass of Ritual?

    Take home final exam due before noon on Friday, May 16 (5 pm, Saturday, May 9 for seniors)