Re: Magic

[Carl Glover <glover@msmary.edu>]

Dear Beth,
	First, let me say that I agree with you that it serves no useful
purpose for us to talk about writing center work as a form of magic.
Clearly we use techniques and procedures designed to produce desirable
outcomes in both process and product.  So when asked what we do in writing
centers, we can say "We work with writers, and this is how we do it."
That makes more sense than saying, "We are all magicians; magic happens
here; and if we tell you how we do it, it won't be magic anymore."
	Having said that, I think we ARE engaged in a magical enterprise
in writing center work.  I believe that the things we teach people to do
with words ARE magic.  In the 5th century B.C., the sophist Gorgias
proclaimed, "Speech [logos] is a powerful lord, which by means of the
finest and most invisible body effects the divinest works: it can stop
fear and banish grief and create joy and nurture pity. ... Sacred
incantations sung with words are bearers of pleasure and banishers of
pain, for, merging with opinion in the soul, the power of the incantation
is wont to beguile it and persuade it and alter it by witchcraft."
	I apologize for pulling those verses out of context from the
"Encomium of Helen," but they point to this idea that language has power
and those who have facility with language can wield this power.  In our
own minds, at least, all that has been, all that is, and all that will be
is a function of logos.  
	I think it is fine for us to speak of magic among ourselves, but
you are right, Beth, in saying that we must speak of what we do in
concrete terms to those on the outside.
					Warm regards,


					Carl W. Glover
					glover@msmary.edu