First, a few of the most striking points from the article to me:
- mentions the prejudices and personal biases people may bring into their conception of ancient magic or its study, such that the definition of and attitude toward it is fragile
- the definition underwent change even in the ancient world
- frequent mentions of how magic is (and is not) used to refer to religious figures, including and particularly Christian
- argues for adherence to indigenous vocab, not translation to 'magic,' and terms like witch and wizard should only describe literary characters/caricatures
- Orientalism and othering that exists around referencing someone as being magic/a wizard/a witch, etc
- materiality of religion, agency of the images and participation of the body
Discussion Questions:
- I was reminded of something someone mentioned in class last week, that "it's not magic if you understand how it works" when reading the middle-end of this piece, wherein the author describes an early Christian's thought process in going to Egypt to find magic. In addition to Orientalism, othering, misogyny, etc, what role does the speaker's understanding of the described practices play in the usage of the term? Should usages in which case the speaker is unfamiliar with the practice and chooses to describe it as magical be given the same credence as practices which are self-described as magical?
- On the idea of the 'witch' and 'sorcerer' archetypes in fiction, how do we then square those who self-identify as such?
- Magic is often used to describe the outskirts of society or a niche, but many of the practices described (certain priesthoods, prayer and sacrifice, divination, etc) seem to be quite traditional. In addition, magical practices on their own seem to have longer histories preceding them-- they are not invented by the person practicing. What is this relationship or tension between magic, tradition, and marginalization?
- At the end of the paper, the author emphasizes the physicality of religion and magical objects. How do we then incorporate 'magical' practices which leave no trace?