Pop-magick : Hacking Reality, One Cartoon at a Time
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Long past are the days, when esoteric teachings and occult practices were reserved for an initiated few, clandestinely hidden away from the public eye. Contemporary society, oversaturated with visual stimuli has, thanks to modern technology, obtained an unprecedented access to sources of old esoteric knowledge, as well as modern interpretations, re-interpretations, or new ideas altogether. As early as the 60s, but predominantly in the 80s, several artistic groups, strongly influenced by esotericism, have initiated ways of spreading occult knowledge and symbolism among the population, formulating it as a practice of “changing reality”, but free of the dogmatic hierarchy of the more “traditional” orders. Everything was free to interpretation and appropriation to the modern magicians’ needs. Today, the fusion of the occult and the profane has reached new peaks. Occult-inspired pop-cultural phenomena are emerging through the whole spectrum of popular entertainment. The visual appeal of occultism has become a commodity, produced, presented, and sold on a massive scale. The practice of Chaos Magick, a highly syncretic esoteric practice has benefited from this new renaissance of the occult. What has been known as “low art” is becoming a new medium for magical expression, employed in entertainment and ritual practice alike. This presentation will focus on several case studies representing the utilization of magical symbolism in pop culture and design, their connection between the occult and the audience, as well as the influence it has on the spectator. |
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