The witch hunting mania in early modern Europe was a disturbing and dark chapter in history. It was a period when mass hysteria and fear gripped society, leading to the persecution and execution of thousands of innocent people, predominantly women, who were accused of witchcraft. During this era, from the 15th to the 18th century, the belief in witchcraft and the Devil was widespread. People feared that witches, who were believed to have made a pact with the Devil, possessed supernatural powers that could cause harm or bring misfortune to others. This fear was further fueled by religious and social tensions, as well as economic hardships and political instability. Accusations of witchcraft often stemmed from suspicions of unusual behavior or superstitions.
"A poignant transgenerational story of trauma and recovery in South Korea, Japan, and America." - Library Journal
Her mother writes letters, in Korean, over the years seeking forgiveness and love letters Eun Ji cannot fully understand until she finds them years later hidden in a box. He also is the author of nine books including the award-winning A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers , Sinatra The Song Is You , Stardust Melodies , Tony Bennett The Good Life , Looney Tunes Merrie Melodies , and Jazz Singing.
Accusations of witchcraft often stemmed from suspicions of unusual behavior or superstitions. Physical characteristics such as birthmarks or moles were also considered signs of witchcraft. In some cases, individuals who were seen as outsiders or held unconventional beliefs were targeted.
The magical language series
Drawing by Karl Stevens for the New York Review of Books
The Magical Language of Others is a powerful and aching memoir, a tale of deep bonds to family, place, and language.
After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji Koh’s parents return to South Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in California. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself abandoned and adrift in a world made strange by her mother’s absence. Her mother writes letters, in Korean, over the years seeking forgiveness and love―letters Eun Ji cannot fully understand until she finds them years later hidden in a box.
In this incandescent memoir, E. J. Koh fearlessly grapples with forgiveness, reconciliation, legacy, and intergenerational trauma. Join us for an in-depth conversation with E. J. Koh about her memoir, poetry, and translation.
“Koh’s book is a tremendous gift. We’re so fortunate to have this literary reckoning from a tremendously talented writer. The Magical Language of Others is a wonder.”
—The San Francisco Chronicle
“A haunting, gorgeous narrative…lushly told. Brilliant.”
—The Star Tribune
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form below. Those unable to view the live session will have the opportunity to watch the recorded video or listen to the podcast soon after.
The Magical Language of Others with E.J. Koh
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 6 PM (EST)
The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
E. J. Koh is the author of the memoir The Magical Language of Others and the poetry collection A Lesser Love. She is the winner of the Pleiades Press Editors Prize, and her poems, translations, and stories have appeared in Boston Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, and World Literature Today, among others. She earned her MFA in Literary Translation and Creative Writing from Columbia University, and is completing the PhD program at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is a recipient of The MacDowell Colony and Kundiman fellowships.
About the Speaker:
Tamar Herman is a New York City-based journalist specializing in international music and media with a focus on the Asian pop culture market and its trends. In addition to her role as pop correspondent at Billboard, she has written for outlets including NBC News, Forbes, and Entertainment Weekly, and appears in the "K-Pop" episode of Vox's Explained docu series on Netflix. She serves as the managing editor of K-Pop blot KultScene and is a co-host of the Nice Jewish Fangirls podcast.
Will Friedwald writes about music and popular culture for The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Playboy magazine and other publications (and reviews current shows for Citiview). He also is the author of nine books including the award-winning A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers, Sinatra: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, and Jazz Singing. He has written over 600 liner notes for compact discs, received ten Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and other documentaries. He is also a consultant and curator for Apple Music. current books : The Great Jazz And Pop Vocal Albums (Pantheon Books / Random House, November 2017), Sinatra: The Song Is You! - New Revised Edition (Chicago Review Press, May 2018) and Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole (Oxford University Press, May 2020).
I didn’t know anything about E.J. Koh before this, and this memoir was an interesting read, full of surprises I didn’t expect. There are some trigger warnings that would’ve been nice (CW: eating disorders are mentioned, as well as her grandmother essentially killed herself. There’s also details about her grandmother slitting her wrists and multiple different attempts at suicide. That I was not prepared for at all), but it thankfully didn't impact me too much.
Once accused, the accused witches faced a brutal process. They were subjected to various forms of torture to extract confessions, including the notorious practice of water dunking, where the accused would be tied up and thrown into water. If they floated, it was believed that they were guilty and in league with the Devil. If they sank and drowned, they were considered innocent. Either way, the accused would often meet a grim fate. The trials and executions were carried out through religious and secular courts, with religious authorities often playing a significant role in the witch-hunting fervor. The infamous witch-hunting manual "Malleus Maleficarum" ("The Hammer of Witches") written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger in 1486, provided theological and legal justifications for the persecution of witches, further fueling the hysteria. The number of witch trials and executions varied across Europe but reached its peak during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of people, mostly women, were executed for witchcraft during this time, although the exact numbers remain uncertain. Eventually, the witch hunting mania began to decline as skepticism towards witchcraft grew and evidence-based legal systems emerged. In the late 17th century, voices of reason began to challenge the witch hunts, and governments and courts started to question the validity of witchcraft accusations. The witch hunting mania in early modern Europe remains a haunting reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the consequences of fear-driven society. It serves as a stark example of how unfounded beliefs and prejudices can lead to the persecution and unjust treatment of innocent individuals..
Reviews for "The Witch Hunting Mania: A Dark Period of Persecution and Fear"
1. John Doe - 1 star - I found "The witch hunting mania in early modern Europe" to be a tedious read that lacked depth and coherence. The author seemed more interested in listing the various atrocities committed during witch hunts rather than providing any meaningful analysis or insight into the causes and implications of the hysteria. Moreover, the writing style was dry and academic, making it difficult to engage with the material. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others seeking a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars - While "The witch hunting mania in early modern Europe" presented an important and often overlooked aspect of history, I felt that it lacked balance and objectivity. The author seemed to have a clear agenda of condemning all aspects of witch hunts, without exploring any potential justifications or motivations behind them. Additionally, the book relied heavily on anecdotal evidence and lacked a strong theoretical framework. While it may serve as a starting point for those new to the subject, I would recommend seeking out more comprehensive and nuanced works on the topic for a deeper understanding of the complexities involved.
3. Robert Johnson - 2 stars - As a history enthusiast, I had high hopes for "The witch hunting mania in early modern Europe," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The book felt disjointed and lacked a clear narrative thread, making it difficult to follow the progression of events and understand the broader context. While the topic itself is fascinating, the author's writing style was dry and overly academic, which hindered my engagement with the material. I would recommend looking for alternative sources that provide a more cohesive and captivating exploration of this dark period in history.