Magic rational judgement media is a concept that combines elements of magic, rationality, and media to create a useful tool for decision-making and problem-solving. It is a way to harness the power of storytelling and imagination, while still staying grounded in logical reasoning. The term "magic" in this context refers to the ability of stories and narratives to tap into our emotions and inspire us. Stories have the power to transport us to different worlds, to make us feel deeply, and to connect us with others. By using the principles of storytelling, magic rational judgement media can engage our emotions and make abstract concepts more relatable and understandable. However, magic alone is not enough.
It's wide enough that you may wish to be narrower as with something like "history of witchcraft" etc.
for the study of earlier practices these have sometimes claimed to descend from including a range of positions as to whether that is the case for the beliefs of those who claimed that witches were attacking society from the witch crazes of the early modern period and earlier through to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and beyond and to other practices of magic that have been given the label witchcraft. for the study of earlier practices these have sometimes claimed to descend from including a range of positions as to whether that is the case for the beliefs of those who claimed that witches were attacking society from the witch crazes of the early modern period and earlier through to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and beyond and to other practices of magic that have been given the label witchcraft.
However, magic alone is not enough. In order to make rational judgements, we need to apply logic and critical thinking. This is where the element of rationality comes in.
SDSU Children's Literature
Molly Ostertag’s debut middle-grade graphic novel The Witch Boy was first published in 2017. The graphic novel was written and illustrated by Ostertag, and it follows Aster, a boy who wishes to practice witchcraft despite it being forbidden for boys. He lives in a magical community with his family, which is separated from human society and the only contact they have is with other magical families around the area. Each member of the community contributes to sustaining the way of life. The men in the community become shapeshifters whereas the women learn about witchcraft and perform spells. Aster has no interest in shapeshifting or physical fighting, instead, he wants to learn spells and the ways of the witches. Men and boys are forbidden from learning witchcraft since the community adheres to strict gender roles. There is only one man in the community who attempted to learn witchcraft before and it did not go well. Besides the challenges Aster faces due to his gender-nonconforming identity, his cousins are mysteriously going missing.
While reading this graphic novel, I could not help but pay attention to the representation of girlhood and how the novel constructs it. Currently, I am taking a class with Professor Lashon Daley in which we look at representations of girlhood in Middle-Grade and YA novels. The Witch Boy is a graphic novel that interacts heavily with gender roles and how girlhood has been constructed in a magical society.
The Witch Boy does not waste any time in depicting girlhood. The graphic novel's construction of girlhood mirrors our society’s image of girlhood. For example, Aster is caught spying on the girls’ magical lesson, and an elder scolds him by saying: “Aster! This lesson isn’t for you -- these girls are learning secrets!” (Ostertag 5). Aster, as a boy, is berated for trying to learn girls’ “secrets.” While reading this, I could not help but think about how girls and boys are separated for sex education in middle school . Boys are not allowed to learn about girls’ bodily changes. The boys in the graphic novel do not have lessons like the girls’; they just play around and sometimes practice their shapeshifting. We learn quickly how gender roles are strictly upheld in this world, which very much mirrors our own. I enjoyed how this is how we are introduced to Aster. Immediately, we know that he does not fully fit into his community because of what is being said to him and where he is on the page (up on a tree at a distance).
In Dr. Daley’s course, we read Megan Henesy’s article ‘Leaving My Girlhood Behind’: Woke Witches and Feminist Liminality in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ,” which centers Sabrina as the gothic figure due to how she navigates two worlds (2). In class, we discussed how Sabrina, as the “woke witch,” embodies the following characteristics: liminality, activism, being 16 years old, being a virgin, encountering a dark wizard, feeling out of place, choosing her place in society, and having a sidekick. I believe that The Witch Boy is a great book to read through this lens.
Many of the elements of Henesy’s “woke witch” framework are present in The Witch Boy. First we have liminality. Aster exists in two spaces, boyhood and girlhood, and because of this he does not fit into his culture. The second characteristic is “activism,” which Aster engages in due to questioning why boys cannot perform witchcraft. Once Aster is caught spying on the girls’ magic lesson he has a conversation with his mother about not being able to perform witchcraft: “I don’t understand why Juniper and Hazel and them can all learn how to talk to trees and make potions and do spells and I can’t. It’s not fair” (7). After this he goes on to perform magic on his own, challenging the system in place. Furthermore, Aster does not meet the age requirement for the “woke witch.” The Witch Boy is a middle-grade text, and his age is not specified. Aster can be presumed to be an older tween (10-12) or a young teen (13-14). As for the virginal state, The Witch Boy does not engage with sexuality, and due to his age Aster mostly likely fits this criteria of the “woke witch.” Aster does have an encounter with a dark wizard, which in this case is the villain of the narrative. The villain in this text is a dragon-like creature who wants Aster to join him in his dark magic endeavors. The “dark wizard” is similar to Aster, but he has embraced the “dark side” of magic.
The next characteristics of the “woke witch” framework are feeling out of place, choosing your place, and having a sidekick. Aster’s family constantly reminds him that witchcraft is solely for girls. For example, his mom explains to him: “But, Aster, that magic is for you. Women and men have different types of magic” (8). She then tells the story of Mikasi, Aster’s great uncle, who did not adhere to the gender roles and was ostracized in the community, “[h]e was cast out for he was a danger to himself and the family” (11). Aster’s mother lets him know that if he were to practice magic openly he could be banished from the community. This serves as a warning and solidifies how out of place he is within the place he calls home and the people who are supposed to love him unconditionally, his family. Moreover, Aster is able to choose his place when he meets Charlie. She is a human he meets while walking outside his community. They share the same feelings of not belonging in their communities. Charlie is a girl who loves sports and has two dads. As the story progresses she becomes Aster’s sidekick, encouraging him to perform magic. She eventually asks him to heal her injured leg (75-76).
Aster’s journey in The Witch Boy follows the dynamics of Henesy’s “woke witch,” except for the age. Reading this graphic novel and looking at it through this framework was a fun exercise! I wanted to showcase how children’s literature scholarship can be applied widely and the type of exercises graduate students like me engage in.
I hope you will pick up The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag because it is truly a wonderful graphic novel. I know I will be reading the following volumes in this trilogy ( Hidden Witch and The Midwinter Witch). Also, it is being adapted into a Netflix animated musical , so why not get ahead of the movie release?
Henesy, Megan. “‘Leaving My Girlhood behind’: Woke Witches and Feminist Liminality in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” Feminist Media Studies , 2020, pp. 1–15. Crossref , doi:10.1080/14680777.2020.1791929.
Ostertag, Molly. The Witch Boy: A Graphic Novel (The Witch Boy Trilogy #1) . Illustrated, e-book, Graphix, 2017.
By grounding our storytelling and imagination in logical reasoning, we can ensure that our decisions are well-informed and based on sound principles. Media plays a crucial role in this process. With the advent of technology, we have access to an unprecedented amount of information and content. However, not all media is created equal. It is important to choose media that is informative, reliable, and thought-provoking. By selectively consuming media that promotes rationality and critical thinking, we can train our minds to make judgements based on reason and evidence. So, how can we create useful magic rational judgement media? One way is by incorporating elements of fantasy and imagination into educational and informative content. This can make complex ideas more accessible and engaging, while still maintaining their logical foundation. By combining storytelling with rationality, we can create media that captures our attention and encourages us to think critically. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the media we consume on a daily basis. Be selective about the sources of information and the content you engage with. Seek out media that challenges your assumptions and presents different perspectives. By exposing ourselves to a variety of viewpoints, we can broaden our understanding and make more informed judgements. In conclusion, useful magic rational judgement media is a powerful tool for decision-making and problem-solving. By combining elements of magic, rationality, and media, we can create content that engages our emotions, while still staying grounded in logical reasoning. It is a way to make complex ideas more relatable and understandable, while also encouraging critical thinking and informed judgements..
Reviews for "How to Filter Through the Noise: Applying Rational Judgement to Media Consumption"
- Sarah - 1 star
This media was a complete waste of time. The concept of "useful magic rational judgement" is just ridiculous. It's like they were trying to mix different genres together but failed miserably. The plot was confusing, the characters were uninteresting, and I found myself constantly checking the time to see when it would finally be over. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
- John - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Useful magic rational judgement media" based on the positive reviews I had read, but I was left extremely disappointed. The storyline lacked depth and the pacing was all over the place. The attempts at incorporating magic into a rational judgment framework felt forced and unnatural. Overall, it was a forgettable and underwhelming experience.
- Emily - 1 star
I couldn't even make it through the first episode of "Useful magic rational judgment media". The writing was cringeworthy, the acting was subpar, and the special effects were laughable. It felt like a cheap knockoff of other, much better supernatural dramas. Save yourself the time and skip this one.
- Alex - 2 stars
"Useful magic rational judgement media" had some interesting ideas, but they were poorly executed. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development. I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated as the story progressed. It's a shame, because with better writing and direction, this could have been a much more enjoyable experience.