The truth about voodoo
PUSSSYKATT
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FOR those of you who have wished evil thoughts on your boss, ex-husband or
next-door neighbor - perhaps even resorted to poking needles into a doll in a
desperate attempt to resolve unsettled issues, only to wake up the next day to
find everything at status quo - there is an explanation.
There is no such thing as a voodoo doll in the Vodou religion.
The spirits you're trying to appeal to have no idea just what it is you're
doing.
Somewhere along the way, Hollywood decided that the needles and dolls would
sell tickets. It made no difference if it was steeped in the ancient
Afro-Caribbean religion or not. It was a powerful image.
The American Museum of Natural History hopes to clarify that and other
misconceptions of Vodou in its new exhibition, "The Sacred Art of Haitian
Vodou."
While dolls are part of the exhibition - they are considered "messengers" for
spirits that help people probe the mysteries of life, death and sex - there is
no mention of their so-called "magical powers" anywhere in the show. That's
because "they've often been used to mock blacks and their culture," said
exhibit co-creator Donald Cosentino, professor of African and Caribbean
folklore at the University of California at Los Angeles, which organized the
exhibition.
"Haiti had been demonized and its culture ridiculed in the United States
because it represented a slave rebellion to a slave-owning society - the worst
fear realized," Cosentino said.
The exhibition hopes to change that perception. It portrays a culture not
obsessed with freaky witchcraft and dark rituals - as it is conventionally
depicted - but a culture steeped in several traditions and practices.
Vodou (Haitian Creole for "sacred"), the predominant religion of the Haitian
people, began when enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas in the 16th
century and melded their religious traditions with Western practices -
especially Roman Catholicism. The slaves worshipped the Catholic saints of
their Spanish masters while secretly seeing them as representations of African
deities. Vodou, then, represents the fusion of several different belief systems
into an original religion.
"I'm a strict Irish Roman Catholic. I'm delighted to see some of our artwork
incorporated here," said visitor Peter Shields, 80, of Linden, N.J., as he
walked through the exhibition. "I'm also an artist - I'm doing Monets right now
- but I'm really intrigued by their work. I'll probably go buy the book after I
leave."
The exhibition is divided into eight sections. It starts out by introducing
Haiti and its political history through the use of paintings, photographs and
videos by some of Haiti's most renowned artists. It then goes on to explore the
various aspects of altar art, focusing on objects used to approach the
principal divinities. There are drums and rattles used as objects to summon the
spirits, wrapped containers filled with herbs and leaves, bottles, bowls and
ceramic pots used to contain the spirits.
The next section is devoted to the most celebrated form of Vodou art - a
spectacular collection of sequined flags that are used to salute the divinities
in ceremonies. Each one is a masterpiece in its own right - one brighter, more
intricate and colorful than the next.
At the end of the exhibition stands a full replica of a Vodou temple. It is the
focal point of the exhibition, a place where visitors can sit on wooden chairs
and stools and watch large-screen videos of Vodou ceremonies or discuss the
ancient religion with a Haitian ritual expert.
Next to the recreated temple are three altars containing scores of sacred
objects intended to summon the spirits. Each one honors one of the three basic
forms of Vodou - the benign spirits, the aggressive, fiery spirits and the
secret society, whose imagery is meant to intimidate in order to impart
respect.
"I've always been a little fearful of the religion," said Jo Kearns, from
Raleigh, N.C. "I've always associated it with something evil. I never realized
how beautiful their artwork was. Now I can learn about it without being
afraid," she said.
"I love this religion," said Matthew Vose, 36, of Mansfield, Conn., as he stood
chatting with one of the Vodou experts in front of an altar. "I have a setup of
my own religious artifacts at home - just little cards. Nothing fancy. It's all
about showing respect for a higher power," he said, tossing a dollar bill into
the scattered pile of bills already thrown in as an offering to the spirits.
"It's the least I can do."
---------
"The Sacred Art of Haitian Vodou," American Museum of Natural History, Central
Park West at 79th Street; (212) 769-5100; on display through Jan. 3, 1999.
Goldrivet
>next-door neighbor - perhaps even resorted to poking needles into a doll in a
>desperate attempt to resolve unsettled issues, only to wake up the next day
>to
>find everything at status quo - there is an explanation.
>
>There is no such thing as a voodoo doll in the Vodou religion.
So ya'll better toss those Gwyneth dolls in the trash!
Butch
MCD LANCER
>FOR those of you who have wished evil thoughts on your boss, ex-husband or
>next-door neighbor - perhaps even resorted to poking needles into a doll in a
>desperate attempt to resolve unsettled issues, only to wake up the next day
>to
>find everything at status quo - there is an explanation.
>
>There is no such thing as a voodoo doll in the Vodou religion.
>
Oh, who cares? Won't stop me from boiling, stabbing and stomping my little
dolls in frustration. Details, details -- don't bother us with details!
Sending postcards from the edge,
Mary Beth
~*~ Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. ~*~
Woody Woodpecker
wrote:
Whoever wrote that is ignorant but I don't want to get into the
historical authenticity of voodoo dolls. Either way, there is no such
thing as magic, and I'm living proof of that. Of course it could just
be that the idiots I ran into had no idea what they were doing and/or
are very weak willed/minded. Hmm come to think of it.....
Jay H.
Woody Woodpecker wrote in message
<362fd96f...@netnews.worldnet.att.net>...
What on earth are you talking about?
Jay H.