User:Charlie/Graduate Proposal

Project Proposal ~ DRAFT

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✧ Draft #1 ✧

Draft Pad

✼ What do you want to make? ✼

An illustrated publication on "Protocols for Magic", texts that reflect different aspects of my research alongside a variety of games, templates and exercises to practice Magic.

Informed by my thesis on Magic as a system-of-thought within different contexts, this publication will include experimental frameworks based on Magic systems and existing Magic practices focused on art and creative expression.

✼ How do you plan to make it? ✼

1. Thesis - Literature review and references analysis
2. Prototyping systems - Templates/Exercises/Games/Riddles/Texts
3. Testing - Workshops/Feedback Sessions/Other
4. Presenting - Textual + Visual
5. ...

✼ What is your timetable? ✼

• Initial Research (overlapping)
  • Thesis Reference and Literature: ~ 2 months
  • Prototyping + Test sessions: 2-3 months
• Reflections and Refinements: 1-2months
• Publication: 1<2 months

✼ Why do you want to make it? ✼

When I was tasked to imagine what I really truly wanted to make, above all else, this project beat all other more "reasonable ideas".

Maybe because, despite being a so-called skeptic, I have always been deeply fascinated by all types of esotericism, the occult and most of all, anything adjacent to Magic. Over time, I have tried to develop my own personal view of Magic and "how it works". And in this eternal attempt to reconcile rationality with wonder in pursuit of real life magic, I have come to find that art, in both admiration and creation, is the closest I may get to "it".

Or maybe because, I like to imagine that in another life I took a slightly more academic route and pursuit studies in art history with a minor in occult art, or religious studies and gone on to do a Master in Western Esotericism (they offer that in Amsterdam). Alas, I chose Illustration, because I wasn't a very good student in high-school and loved drawing more than reading. And now I'm doing a Masters in Experimental Publishing.

Or maybe, after all considerations, all theories on magic, new age believes and esoteric practices I have read about, art is still the closest substitute to magic I have found so far. And like a bastardized version of Alchemy in which I merge my love for art, science and heresy, this may be a final attempt at distilling the very substance of Magic to a digestible goo in hopes of transmuting it into a shiny goblet that can hold my specific world view.

(Please excuse me.. I wrote this too late in the evening and was pondering my choices)

✼ Who can help you and how? ✼

Dr. Justin Sledge - Esoterica (YouTube channel) = I would really like to contact him and ask many questions in regards to Magic practices of the past and his philosophical views on the matter. (maybe maybe)

✼ Relation to previous practice ✼

• BA Project (expand..)
• Ornamenta

• Sneaking-in occult symbolism in all my work
• Publications based on supernatural or superstitious themes
• ...

✼ Relation to a larger context ✼

✼ References ✼

• Dukes, R. (2000). 'SSOTBME Revised - an essay on magic.', The Mouse That Spins, England. (ISBN: 1-903548-00-4)
• Dk (2020). 'History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult.' Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated. (ISBN: 978-0-2413-8611-8)
• Nataf, A. (1990). 'Les Maîtres de l’occultisme.' , France Loisirs, (ISBN: 978-2724250015) ‌ ‌

• Haute, L. O., (2023) ' talismans pour celles qui ne savent pas de quoi ils parlent' (translation: Talismans for the ones who don't know what they talk about)
• Per Faxneld (2017). ' Satanic feminism: Lucifer as the liberator of woman in nineteenth-century culture ', New York, Ny: Oxford University Press. ‌

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