Exorcism
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). The practice is quite ancient and still part of the belief system of many religions.
The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a priest, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use prayers, and religious material, such as set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, amulets, etc.. The exorcist invokes God and/or several different angels and archangels. The Priest also uses Crosses and Holy Water often when performing one. In general, possessed persons are not regarded as evil in themselves, nor wholly responsible for their actions. Therefore practitioners regard exorcism more as a cure than as a punishment.
Cultural references
Exorcism has been a popular subject in fiction, especially horror.
- The Dybbuk (1914 play by S. Ansky)
- The Exorcist (1971 novel by William Peter Blatty; inspired by exorcism of Robbie Mannheim)
- The Exorcist (1973 film, and its sequels and prequels, were inspired by the exorcism of Robbie Mannheim and the Roman Catholic ritual of exorcism; based on the novels by William Peter Blatty).
- Repossessed (1990 comic movie starring Linda Blair and Leslie Nielsen)
- The X-Files (1995 TV series Season 2, Episode 21)
- Days of Our Lives (1995 saw the first ever excorcism performed on a daytime soap opera)
- Marley Davidson (1995 comic book series debut of Marley Davidson, an exorcist in a fictionalized South Bronx)
- Stigmata (1999 film starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Bryne)
- Possessed (2000 film inspired by exorcism of Robbie Mannheim)
- Exorcist: The Beginning (2004 movie) a prequel to the 1973 film The Exorcist.
- Supernatural (2005 television series, has many exorcisms throughout)
- Constantine (2005 movie) is based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hellblazer.
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005 movie) was inspired by the Anneliese Michel case.
- Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005 movie) was an alternate prequel to The Exorcist directed by Paul Schrader.
- A Haunting (2005 Discovery Channel TV series about reportedly true stories, many involving demons and exorcisms.)
- Requiem (2006 German-language movie by Hans-Christian Schmid) is based on the Anneliese Michel case.
- D.Gray-man (2006 Japanese animation series by Hoshino Katsura)
- Apparitions (2008 BBC TV series)
- Boys Do Cry (2007 Family Guy episode about the town of Quahog trying to exorcise Stewie, forcing the family to leave Rhode Island)
- Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (Showtime TV series) Season 5, Episode 5 - "Exorcism", air date: April 19, 2007. Provides some skeptical commentary on the usefulness and scientific validity of exorcisms.
- 1920 (2008 Bollywood movie)
- True Blood (2008 HBO television series)
- Paranormal State (2008 A&E TV series)
- The Unborn (2009 film)
- Blue Exorcist (2009 Japanese manga)
- The Last Exorcism (2010 American mockumentary horror film)
- The Rite (2011 film)
- Season of the Witch (2011 film)
- 6 Days on Earth (2011 film)
- The Devil Inside (2012 film)
- The Possession (2012 film)
- American Horror Story: Asylum (2012 FX TV series)
- Pazuzu (2014 film)
See also
- Exorcist
- Deliverance ministry
- International Association of Exorcists
- Kecak
- List of exorcists
- Yoruba religion
- Gay exorcism