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 ✼

Despite the exponential rise in scientific rationalism since the Age of Enlightenment, Magic has remained ever-present. Its prevalence within public life and mainstream beliefs fluctuating throughout human history. In certain ways, I would argue that the societal push for purely scientific reasoning may have contributed to an increase in contemporary magic practices, esoteric believes and new age spiritual movements.

Especially, the historically persistent conflict between scientific and religious dogma has contributed to an increase in people identifying as atheists or agnostics, it may also have pushed some to seek more eclectic modes of worship and spiritual practices. More interestingly, many of these recent forms of Magic that emerged in the last two centuries are often characterized by their proclivity for employing scientific language to gain credibility and fortify their believes against skeptic scrutiny.

✼ 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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