Final Video link

 https://youtu.be/F_J6g_70jJU

5 "Things" I learned from class

1) The connection and overlap between science and magic

    The most relatable concept to my career that we have discussed is the connection between science and magic, specifically with alchemy. Alchemy started with the idea that other metals can be turned into gold. It's the origin of the word chemistry. Although you can't actually turn copper into gold, chemistry strives to study the elements and to be able to convert materials into different ones. This was considered magic at the time, and sometimes even banned from its association with the occult. 

    We normally think of magic and science, or religion and science, always in conflict. They are always though to contradict each other. If you do not understand science, you will assume its magic. If you do not understand magic or religion, you will assume that there is some sort of scientific explanation. They are both ways of gathering information and studying our surrounding. Magic, religion, and science are all basic human tendencies to reduce uncertainty in attempt to better understand our world. 

2) Witches weren't ever witches

    In popular media, witches are often romanticized and stereotyped into iconic characters, such as in Halloweentown. These characters take pride in their witchcraft, and often publicly display their powers, whether thats for good or evil. This led me to expect the witches in Salem to do the same. However, this is incredibly historically wrong. The witches in Salem were entirely innocent. None of them, except perhaps Tituba, were actually practicing and proud witches. Often their confessions were protective and survival mechanisms. 

    Salem started with small village feuds and rumors, and then it escalated into a frenzy of fear and religious identity. What was once a true narrative became a fluster of accusations and exaggerated storytelling. The idea of the witch actually existing became lost in translation. 

3) Diversity in the modern witch community 

    Another thing that stuck out to me is the diversity in the modern witch community today. Witches have always historically been a part of the "other" side of society, excluded from "normal" people. They have been discriminated and persecuted, much like many minority populations. Many ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community are drawn to the witch community for this reason. There is a common theme of finding safety in those similar to you, and we can all relate to the sad truth that in some form or another we do not feel accepted in all of society. Witches today have formed in a strong community, connected through the online network to create a beautiful virtual coven.

4) Misogyny and sexuality in Salem witch trials 

    The witch trials were fueled by fear and an underlying hatred and suspicion for women. Without sexism, the witch trials may have had a different outcome. The idea that women are inferior, sexually tempting beings, and wicked helped contribute to witch stereotypes today. The "bad witch" is an ugly, wrinkled, and old lady, which further cements that a woman's value lays in her beauty and appearance. 

    Another stereotypical witch on the other hand is beautiful, seemingly kind, and smart, but she often uses her powers to manipulate men. One historical document details how women cry and show emotion to deceive men and hide their true intentions. Women are also nasty sluts and use their sexual energy to get what they want. Some witches were even accused of having sex with the devil. The obsession with a woman's beauty and sexuality shows how men actually perceive women. They believe that women cannot be smart or cunning, so they blame it on their sexuality. 

5) Religious beliefs in Salem 

    The religious beliefs in Salem sound hardcore and insane today, but it is not that outrageous in context. Puritan beliefs of this village eliminated choice in what to believe. However, people simply were never exposed to anything else. They grew up with these beliefs and practices ingrained in their blood. It was all they ever knew. It became their identity. When something threatened that, such as the evil witch, their identity was also threatened. This fear eventually led to the hysteria of the violent and escalated Salem witch trials. 

    Children were the origin of these beliefs. You grew up in a culture where your life is consumed by the forces of good and evil, god and the devil. Imagination and the lack of brain development led them to possibly form delusions and make questionable choices. However, they were literally kids and did not know anything else. Perhaps they never processed any of it. Maybe they thought it was some surreal sort of play time. It is sad that the lack of adult support and emotional processing skills led to the deaths of dozens of people.

 Last class we were discussing about what we think happened in Salem. It was brought up that people truly believed and breathed their religious values, as they had no exposure to anything else.

This led me to reflect on the impact of my religious upbringing. I went to Catholic school my entire life. We went to Church three times a week (one on Sunday, and twice during the week with the entire school). Mass was a comforting but tedious experience for me, at least in the early years before high school. It was always hot, crowded, children screaming, incense heavy, and had lectures droning on. 

I expect that mass in Salem was a similar experience, but more intense. At that time, most of the preaching is focused on what not to do: disassociate with sin, avoid the devil, resent evil etc. All that focus on the horror and flames of hell has to affect the psychology of a person, especially impressionable young children. I have talked about the malleable minds of children and vulnerable people in my last post. 

I remember my church had more emphasis on the love of God and Jesus, which at the time felt distant and intangible. But I also could not imagine believing any other religion. Once I got older, I had more negative experiences with religion on an organizational and interpersonal basis. My falling out with religion had almost nothing to do with spiritual values. I still love and embrace the kindness, respect, and empathy of Christian values. I took classes in high school on Christian morality and Catholic social teaching, and it was completely life changing. 

I know (most) Puritans believed in their religion with good, kind intentions. The fear of the devil and threats to their religious identity compelled them to do terrible things. Some of them simply just did not know any better or what to do. 

Last class, we talked about how the Salem witch trials caused the afflicted to be convinced that they were actually witches, despite their innocence. I wanted to point out the psychology of this phenomenon, using one of my favorite communication theories. 

Cognitive dissonance is the guilt an individual feels when there is a difference between attitude and behavior. Humans have a tendency to feel content and justified in their actions when they can agree with their actions on a moral or ethical basis, or attitude. We strive for a consistency between these two things. For example, you feel positive emotions when you volunteer at a charity organization that you believe is good. However, you feel guilty when you steal from a good business, because you believe that stealing is wrong. This is from the dissonance you feel when attitude and behavior are different. 
For decades, communication scholars believed that attitude always determines the behavior. Until, a groundbreaking study found that it can also go the other way around when the reward is not enough to justify the behavior. An example would be that you steal from the store, because the reward is a beautiful diamond necklace that can pay for hospital bills. You still think stealing is wrong (attitude), but you justify the behavior because of the reward to soothe the guilt as a result of the dissonance. However, if you steal little things like gum or candy bars from a large corporation, you start to change your attitude to justify the behavior because the reward is so small. 

This happened at the Salem witch trials with the afflicted girls. The girls felt dissonance because their attitude did not match their behavior. The original attitude would be that they are innocent, morally conscious girls, where lying and falsely accusing others is wrong . Everyone convinced them that the behavior, in this case witchcraft, was true by assuming that they are guilty of being a witch. The behavior is general witchcraft activities, depending on the accusations of the girl. The girls felt a strong guilt when their perceived behavior, that everyone was saying happened, did not match the attitude that they are not actually witches. At this point, it became easier to change their attitude than to defend themselves against the intensity of the accusations and trial process. 

In the confusion and strong emotions as a result of the dissonance, the girls were manipulated into thinking that they are witches, and they participated in the behavior of lying and accusing others. The "reward" is survival at the cost of convicting another innocent girl. Assuming this reward is not high enough to justify the action morally, the girls changed their attitude to believe that they are actually witches and not lying about anything, changing their entire attitude. They believe that the girls that they accuse are also guilty witches. Through this, they close the gap between attitude and behavior to feel better about the situation. 

Years after the tragedy and hysteria, the girls came forward to admit their lies since the "reward" of survival diminished. Others disappeared completely and were never documented again. 

More vulnerable people are prone to this, especially kids where their attitudes are not strongly founded in their experiences yet. This also happened on the show Making a Murderer, so if you are interested in similar situations outside of witchcraft I would highly recommend. 

I have noticed a significant amount of magic and witchcraft is centered around controlling what the baby is going to be like before its birth. Usually, these are rituals are for fertilization, attempting to control the sex of the baby, and the health of the baby. These rituals don't even have to necessarily considered witchcraft; it can even be something as superstitious. 
For example, in the show How I Met Your Mother, Marshal and Lily try to manipulate the sex of their baby by using opposites. A male baby is the result from facing north during conception, eating something basic, and cold temperatures, while female is facing south, eating something acidic, and warm temperatures. 

In my genetics class, we were talking about the biochemical mechanism of CRISPR, a method of genetic targeting. This technique allows geneticists to design the DNA sequences. Although it is an amazing method with the potential to prevent/cure diseases, it has become ethically controversial. The technique can be used to literally design the "genetically perfect" baby. 

Is this method of genetic control similar to the witchcraft practice of choosing the sex of the baby? These are two entirely different topics, but only one is proven by science. In premodern times, this scientific  technique would be considered a magical feat. If it was invented by a woman at the time, I'm sure she would've been tried for witchcraft. These parallels between science and witchcraft are fascinating. Although humans and science are advancing, history has a tendency to repeat itself and the controversy of our actions remains. 

 In a few weeks, we have our presentation on modern representation and presence of witchcraft on the internet and social media. Before then, I wanted to talk about a current tiktok trend that I have noticed. 

The trend is an effect on tiktok that can read and show your "aura" based on what you look like. The filter shows your face and then it fades and morphs into the colors that represent your personality. There can be one color or multiple. This interpretation of an aura is that it shows the atmosphere of the energy you give off. I have seen many different reactions to peoples' results: pride, disappointment, and denial in the filter's capability. Although few people may think this filter actually has magical powers, if it fits their self proclaimed ideal of an aura people will believe and celebrate it. The comments often demand trying the filter again with different backgrounds to see how that influences the results. Regardless, it is interesting to see the response and the attention that this filter and its assigned meaning have gained in a matter of few days. The filter has been used approximately 304,400 times, the most popular video with 4.9 million views. (The filter is called World Map on tiktok if you want to look up any examples).
I have seen witches and magical creators using this filter as well as non-magic identifying people. However, everyone seems to be using the same definition and interpretation of an aura. Auras historically have been studied by psychics and even known to be centers of chakras. Auras were interpreted to show the health and being of a person as part of their inner anatomy, rather than personality or identity. At one point, healers used the aura for spiritual energy and energy medicine. More recently, aura photography became more popular with the invention of the camera, usually using infrared light showing heat emitting from people. Now, aura photography has developed to become a filter on your phone and used by hundreds of thousands of people.