Magic and the Supernatural - Lancaster University

84
The Characteristics of Modern Magic
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in this world. Modernity can be perceived as modified tradition succession. So,
those innovations, as it looks like from the first glance, are only the reflections of
old folk culture and are usually created on the basis of traditional pattern. I would
agree with Russian scholar K. Э. Шумов who asserts that a big part of students’
superstitions could have appeared among townspeople, because of the collision
with specific town space, but scientist also admits that a part of contemporary
superstitions, that exist among students, can be formed according to traditional
principles that are common to so called old folk communal culture. 2 Moreover,
most of superstitions are non- specific, common to other groups of society also. 3
Magic is being practiced, beliefs, superstitions, convictions are being held by
children, adults, well educated people who realize themselves in different
activities. A big part of gathered superstitions scientists refer to individual/
personal beliefs. 4 So, the existence of superstitions in the students’ community can
be linked not only with tradition succession, but also with concrete individual
creative process that society accepts or does not accept. All these named processes
let us understand tradition as contradictory, complicated category to that
transmission, succession, changes, and renewal aspects are the main characteristic
features.
As the concept of tradition, definition of magic is also complicated, but because
of its conceptual relationship with beliefs, superstitions, sorcery, rituals. In many
cases mentioned concepts re-cover each other - it is difficult to draw the exact
boundaries of each of it. The concepts of superstition and magic are also being
identified. Despite of that, title of this chapter represents some kind of hierarchic
point of view to the concepts of superstition and magic. I would prefer to
understand magic as a broad conception. I accept the perception of magic as an
esthetic, performative interaction with the world, as an expression of participating
in the social and cosmic life. 5 You will probably ask, why not students’ magic?
Why students’ superstitions? The concept of superstitions is also broad – it can
cover beliefs, practices, rituals, omens, different specific behaviors, lucky numbers,
clothing, and route. Superstitions as a popular religion, in the context of Christian
religion, are talked by N. Belmont. 6 It seems paradoxical when some religious
elements in some cases hide themselves under the concept of superstition. For
example, when students cross themselves or pray before the exams. This is being
practiced not in a sacred space, but in a university. Moreover, sacred time, peculiar
time becomes the time of the exam. 7 So, although superstitions do not have its own
religious system, they perfectly exist in syncretic conditions with the dominating
religion or religions and perfectly fulfill humans’ everyday life.
The way of searching, what kind of working definition to choose, was long and
difficult starting with the exploratory investigation in 2005 and finishing with the
researches carried out in 2006 and 2008 in Lithuania. Main problem I had to deal
with – enormous variety of convictions, how to behave, what to do for your exam
to be successful. The concept of belief conditionally fitted. It covers not only