Shaman in the new world
I believe in power of money. Because it’s role in modernized society is dominant.
As I was reading “Spirit Possession Revisited” by Janice Boddy, the most convincing theory was this.
Healing ritual brings money to women so that they are highly motivated.
Even though the example was from Brazil and distant in timely manner, Economical benefit still is big part of motivation.
Boddy states that the reason why a household wife can perform a important role in the society is because people consider healing ritual as extended household work.(Boddy, pg.416)
Woman having a proper occupation in Korea was considered ‘wrong’ in traditional Korean society. Not that it is ‘wrong wrong’, it is because of Confucianism in Korea.
Having an occupation as a woman were, in traditional Korean standard, abandoning household work.
But the case of Shaman is different. Just like Brazil in Boddy’s article, it is considered proper and mere ‘extension of domestic service performed outside of house.
I attached this video to show how shamans in Korea do their job in accociation with new technology.
That Shaman is utilizing YouTube for advertizing herself.
If she was born in the past when she did not have to advertise herself, her life as a shaman would have been much less competitive.
(She would have been automatically recognized by people in her village)
The world is changing in a very competitive way.
It’s a sad fact to face that even a shaman who traditionally did not have to advertise herself worldwide (you know YouTube) now has no other choice in order to attract as many people as other shamans.
But what did really enabled and encouraged might not be just money. It could be positively change in perception of women.
Nowadays in Korea, unlike the past, no one can actually blame professional career women for having an occupation.
Wow, the world IS changing.
