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• Witchcraft in Modern Society: An Ongoing Tradition or a Folkloric Relic? An Investigation into the Persistence of Witchcraft, from Folklore Stories to 21st Century Practices

  191-202

  Milena Medojevic

  Views:

  221

  This article explores witchcraft’s ongoing relevance and function in contemporary society based on a qualitative analysis of folklore, historical, and modern practices. Despite the rise of secularism and scientific scepticism, the practice of witchcraft continues, albeit under different names and with different purposes. Through the examination of stories collected by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić and partly by Milovan Glišić, as well as contemporary testimonies as a side of comparison, this study reveals that witchcraft serves as a form of spiritual but also practical support in times of personal and social crisis. Rituals like ‘The Melting of Fear’ and ‘Coal Quenching’ demonstrate the continuity of magical practices, even as their cultural and religious contexts evolve. This study argues that, while secular individuals may publicly reject the supernatural, many still seek the services of witchcraft practitioners when conventional solutions fail. The methodology of this work includes a literary analysis of the stories of the mentioned authors and qualitative interviews with four individuals. Emphasising the complex interweaving of witchcraft, folklore, and religious and pagan beliefs, this study shows that despite the changing times, magical practices remain dominant and well-known even to today’s modern man.

• The Vampire as the Mythological Creature in the Cinematography of South Slavic Countries: Vampire in Films “Leptirica” and “Holy Place” - Folkloric Juxtaposition

  83-96

  Milena Medojevic

  Views:

  298

  Mythological creatures have enchanted and intrigued human beings for ages, and humans unconsciously stimulated their fears and insecurities. People have created a vampire-paranormal obsession that is reflected in everything that human creativity has touched, especially in film adaptations. In this article, readers will see the representation of the mythological creature Vampire on the Serbian film screen. The article dissects two selected films, “She-Butterfly” and “The Holy Place” from the vampire-induced horrors of the South Slavic cinematography. They will representatively be the focus of the study. These examples will reveal how the film of that time conjured up the horror, fear, and general aura of the mythological creature Vampire that has haunted the human race for centuries. In contrast to film representations, the author places a vampire from folklore as a pillar for comparison or a test sample to analyze the similarities, differences, and credibility of the representations in the film. Regarding the supportive material, we will extensively rely on the "Serbian Mythological Dictionary" as it provides a solid collection of various folk explanations and descriptions, which we will use for comparison. The methodological approach includes a description of the film plot with important elements, the analysis of the mentioned elements of interest within separate important parts of the plot, and a comparison with a folklore vampire within the analysis.