A bauble and a talisman, while similar in some ways, have distinct differences. A bauble is typically an ornamental and decorative object, often made of small trinkets and materials that are visually pleasing. It is intended to be eye-catching and can be used for various purposes, such as adorning Christmas trees or as costume jewelry. Baubles are often used to add a touch of whimsy or playfulness to a space or outfit. On the other hand, a talisman is believed to have magical or protective properties. It is often worn or carried as a means of attracting positive energy, good luck, or warding off evil.
It is often worn or carried as a means of attracting positive energy, good luck, or warding off evil. A talisman can be an object that holds special significance to an individual or is believed to have inherent supernatural powers. It can take different forms, such as a pendant, a charm bracelet, or even a simple object like a stone or a feather.
Amy Coney Barrett is our Grand High Witch. Can we turn her into a mouse?
This is the midweek what-to-watch edition of Snarky Senior — the newsletter from Erica Manfred, which you can read about here . If you like it and don’t want to miss an issue, you can get it in your inbox by subscribing.
In the latest version of The Witches on HBO Max, Octavia Spencer is the earthy good witch who combats the demonically evil Grand High Witch, played by Anne Hathaway.
The plot is simple. A young orphaned black boy (Jahzir Bruno) goes to live with his grandmother (Spencer) but when a local witch takes an interest in him they escape to a luxury hotel unaware that the witches’ annual conference is being held there. Horror ensues. The boy spies on the conference and overhears the dastardly plan of the Grand High Witch—a command to her minions to murder children by turning them into mice. A drop or two of her magic potion—Formula 86--in a candy bar will do the trick.
Of course she catches the boy spying and turns him and his friends into mice. He seeks revenge with the help of grandma who has a few potions and tricks up her own sleeve. The mouse-children sneak into the kitchen and lace the witches’ pea soup with Formula 86, turning them all into mice. Hilarity ensues as the hotel staff tries to smash them with brooms.
The movie is grand fun. Hathaway is wickedly over-the-top in a bizarre accent and malevolent grin as she chews up the CGI scenery. Spencer (one of my favorite actresses) is delightful as a comforting, cushiony antidote to the skinny, malevolent Hathaway.
When I finished watching I checked the news only to find that my witch nightmare was now a reality--Amy Coney Barrett had been confirmed to the Supreme Court, appearing in the dark of night with arch-villain Trump to take her oath.
I flashed back to the movie. With that high, squeaky voice, blandly pretty face and blond stringy hair, Barrett would have fit right in at the witch’s dinner. Her controversial scarlet dress would have been perfect dinner-party-with-the-witches attire. She certainly possesses the main hallmark of an evil witch in abundance—hypocrisy.
I comforted myself with the many deliciously ironic reversals in both the movie and the Supreme Court nomination.
In the film the good witch does not resemble the traditional version--Glinda from the Wizard of Oz, the beautiful young white lady with a magic wand—but rather is a middle-aged black woman with only a few herbal remedies but a lot of love to give. The bad witch pretends to be a beautiful white woman but she’s actually not a woman at all, she’s a demon who is consumed with hate.
The traditional witch iconography of a shriveled old crone with a hooked nose who kidnaps children is an anti-Semitic trope that’s been around for centuries. In our Supreme Court nomination version of The Witches, the tiny old Jewish crone is actually the most powerful of good witches. She dies at the worst possible moment, and her power is usurped by an unscrupulous cabal of bad witches called Republicans. They install one of their own as the Grand High Witch--a pretty, young, white Christian woman who pretends to care about ordinary people but really wants to take away their right to choose, their civil rights and health insurance and make it easier to kill them with guns.
In another ironic twist, this particular Grand High Witch has a passel of her own children and has actually adopted two black children. Is she planning to turn them into mice perchance?
She really should because she’s certainly not going to protect them from getting shot any other way. She’s not only against gun control, she’s against reigning in the police. She sided with the police on 86% of cases that came before her court.
This witch claims that the George Floyd killing was “emotional” for her family. Her black children are going to be a hell of a lot more “emotional” when a police killing case reaches the Supreme Court and she exonerates the police.
So what is going to be our Formula 86 for our Grand High Witch? How do we turn her into a mouse? A few more justices perhaps?
Or is there another way to shrivel her and her minions? I’d bet there are a few real-life witches out there casting spells as I write. I certainly hope so.
The rest of us have to settle for voting. It’s high time our fortunes changed.
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In another ironic twist, this particular Grand High Witch has a passel of her own children and has actually adopted two black children. Is she planning to turn them into mice perchance?
While both baubles and talismans can be visually appealing and hold personal significance to the owner, their purposes and meanings differ. A bauble is primarily used for aesthetic purposes, while a talisman is imbued with symbolic or mystical properties. Whether one chooses to wear a bauble or a talisman ultimately depends on their personal beliefs and intentions..
Reviews for "The Global Appeal of Baubles and Talismans: Cross-Cultural Perspectives"
1. Samantha - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Bauble vs Talisman" to be incredibly underwhelming. It lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and had no real surprises or twists. Additionally, the writing style was uninspiring, making it difficult to connect with the story or the characters. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
In my opinion, "Bauble vs Talisman" failed to live up to its potential. While the concept of the story was interesting, the execution fell flat. The pacing was inconsistent, making it hard to stay engaged. The world-building also left a lot to be desired - the magical elements felt forced and poorly explained. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with their stories. I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations.
3. David - ★★☆☆☆
I struggled to get through "Bauble vs Talisman". The writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow the plot. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making the characters seem unrealistic. Additionally, the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. Overall, this book didn't captivate me and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
I couldn't finish "Bauble vs Talisman". The story lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of other fantasy novels. The pacing was slow and I found myself losing interest quickly. The characters were flat and lacked development, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't waste my time on it.
5. Michael - ★★☆☆☆
"Bauble vs Talisman" was a forgettable read for me. The plot was formulaic and lacked originality. The world-building was weak and left many questions unanswered. The characters were bland and uninteresting, making it hard to root for them. Overall, the book didn't leave a lasting impression, and I wouldn't recommend it to fans of the fantasy genre.