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How can researchers study magic without destroying its mystery? Drawing on a collaborative project between the playwright Poppy Corbett, the poet Anna Kisby Compton, and the historian William G. Pooley, this Element presents thirteen tools for creative-academic research into magic, illustrated through case studies from France (1790–1940) and examples from creative outputs: write to discover; borrow forms; use the whole page; play with footnotes; erase the sources; write short; accumulate fragments; re-enact; improvise; use dialogue; change perspective; make methods of metaphors; use props. These tools are ways to 'untell' the dominant narratives that shape stereotypes of the 'witch' which frame belief in witchcraft as ignorant and outdated. Writing differently suggests ways to think and feel differently, to stay with the magic, rather than explaining it away. The Element includes practical creative exercises to try as well as research materials from French newspaper and trial sources from the period.
This Element explores thirteen innovative tools for researching magic and witchcraft through a creative-academic lens. Drawing on a unique collaboration between a playwright, a poet, and a historian, the book presents methods for engaging with the mystery of magic rather than demystifying it, using case studies from France between 1790 and 1940. The authors argue that by 'untelling' dominant narratives, researchers can challenge stereotypes and foster new ways of understanding belief in witchcraft.
The book offers a novel approach to studying historical magic by integrating creative methodologies with academic rigor. Its interdisciplinary nature, combining playwriting, poetry, and history, suggests a unique perspective on how to engage with esoteric subjects. The focus on 'untelling' dominant narratives and preserving the mystery of magic indicates a critical stance towards traditional historical analysis. The inclusion of practical exercises and primary source materials from French archives points to a resource valuable for both scholars and creative practitioners interested in the history of witchcraft.
Page Count:
90
Publication Date:
2022-06-23
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
ISBN-10:
1009221078
ISBN-13:
9781009221078
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