Modern Occult Rhetoric: Mass Media and the Drama of Secrecy in the Twentieth Century

Introduction

Notes / 265 Selected Bibliography / 305 Index / 329 viii / contents Illustrations 1. Eliphas Lévi / 4 2. The Sabbatic Goat / 5 3. Goëtic Circle of Black Evocation and Pacts / 25 4. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky / 55 5. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky / 59 6. Aleister Crowley / 110 7. Aleister Crowley / 146 8. The Baphomet of the Church of Satan / 187 Acknowledgments This book began as a doctoral dissertation that I wrote during study at the University of Minnesota. I thank the many kind and patient folks at the University of Alabama Press, as well as three important scholarly mentors, for preparing me to do battle with the Demons of the Warmed-Over (if readers notice that these demons have not been completely exorcized, however, then I am entirely to blame). The idea for a book on secrets was hatched in an “Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism” course taught by my adviser, Robert L. Scott, in the very early hours of a cold Minnesota winter day. Despite reading numerous error-¤lled essays, Professor Scott encouraged further study. He read, reread, and read yet again every chapter, tirelessly recommending changes and suggesting new areas of inquiry. I dedicate this book to Dr. Scott for his kindness, his caring, his parenting, and above all his humanity (“27 April: Old father, old arti¤cer, stand me now and ever in good stead”). Karlyn Kohrs Campbell was also instrumental in the completion of this book. Chapters 2 and 3 began as a project on H. P. Blavatsky in her rhetorical criticism seminar. I learned how to write and teach by working with Dr. Campbell, and her continual encouragement , love, and support has motivated me to do my best. Finally, I owe many thanks to Barry Brummett (otherwise known as “Sheridan, Returned from the Grave”), who has been vetting my scholarship ever since I started sending essays out for review. Barry read the manuscript closely, made numerous, helpful suggestions, and made me my ¤rst rum and tonic on Sunday, May 30, 2004. Other faculty at the University of Minnesota contributed either directly or indirectly to this project. I thank Robin Brown for the many days we have spent in conversation about religion and for going to the exorcisms with me when Bob Larson came to town. Kirt Wilson provided keen insights regarding the magickal texts of Aleister Crowley , which he encouraged me to study in his class on close textual criticism. Edward Schiappa provided invaluable feedback and advice about the theoretical issues of this study, and I thank him, in particular , for helping me to navigate the work of Burke and Rorty (as well as the strange terrain of professorship). Mary Vavrus carefully vetted chapter 7 and spent many afternoons with me in discussion. Ron Greene taught me to be suspicious of the textual magus. In sum, the faculty at the University of Minnesota have been incredibly helpful and supportive during my research. My friends at Minnesota and elsewhere were also important to the completion of this study. Angela Ray has been like a sister to me, and she continues to teach me what being a scholar is by example. We shared many lengthy discussions about the ideas our work shares in common, and on numerous occasions she provided a shoulder to cry on. David Beard has also been a model friend and scholar, and I thank him for all the conversations we had about the ideas in this book, and those we continue to have as the years ®y by. Chani Marchiselli read a number of chapters and offered sharp insights. Aric Putnam and Kristen Brown also provided excellent feedback about key chapters . Mirko Hall and Christopher Swift have listened patiently at the end of a phone as I rambled on endlessly about the occult. Ricca Ducharme also endured an untold number of discussions about this book; her patience and kindness be¤t the Buddha. I am blessed to have had such supportive and humane colleagues while a member of the Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University. I thank Loretta Pecchinoi, Laura Sells, Tracy Stephenson, and Trish Suchy, in particular, for their encouragement , friendship, and support while I was completing the book, and my colleagues in English, Jim Catano and Michelle Massé, for their cheer and welcome embrace. Dan Grano taught me the virtue of Socratic ignorance, which appears here as its double...