What about fiction where magic doesn't solve systemic problems because it's part of the world and affected by the same systemic problems? Looking at you, Ursula.
It's more that magic, like all power, is subject to the conditions of that society (something something coconut tree). Like, in the first Earthsea book you learn that "women's magic" is considered basal and wicked, so they aren't allowed into the fancy magic school, so women are born with the gift of magic are usually looked down upon as witches and lesbians
Magic does have this "things must be in balance" nature to it that you could read as being pro status quo, but I think it's more the case that the existing power structure in the world being unable (unwilful) to change. "Infinite are the arguments of mages" and some mages, it turns out, are just old men unable to see past what they're accustomed to, even some wise ones.
Yes on the first one, maybe on the second. It's implied women can learn the art magic just as men do and it's all just men wanting/believing in their no girls allowed club, but from my read on it, it's implied by some characters that it's somewhat different and deeper. Good ass quote from an old hag:
A woman's a different thing entirely. Who knows where a woman begins and ends? Listen mistress, I have roots, I have roots deeper than this island. Deeper than the sea, older than the raising of the lands. I go back into the dark ... I go back into the dark! Before the moon I am, what a woman is, a woman of power, a woman's power, deeper than the roots of trees, deeper than the roots of islands, older than the Making, older than the moon. Who dares ask questions of the dark? Who'll ask the dark its name?”
It doesn't outright say which is true so I guess you're supposed to apply your own feminist values on it.
What about fiction where magic doesn't solve systemic problems because it's part of the world and affected by the same systemic problems? Looking at you, Ursula.
So the magic itself is enforcing a status quo? Am I understanding that correctly?
It's more that magic, like all power, is subject to the conditions of that society (something something coconut tree). Like, in the first Earthsea book you learn that "women's magic" is considered basal and wicked, so they aren't allowed into the fancy magic school, so women are born with the gift of magic are usually looked down upon as witches
and lesbiansMagic does have this "things must be in balance" nature to it that you could read as being pro status quo, but I think it's more the case that the existing power structure in the world being unable (unwilful) to change. "Infinite are the arguments of mages" and some mages, it turns out, are just old men unable to see past what they're accustomed to, even some wise ones.
Okay, so magic as an institution is flawed because the institutions that work magic are flawed?
Or is it a gender essentialism thing happening where magical women are evil lesbians?
Yes on the first one, maybe on the second. It's implied women can learn the art magic just as men do and it's all just men wanting/believing in their no girls allowed club, but from my read on it, it's implied by some characters that it's somewhat different and deeper. Good ass quote from an old hag:
It doesn't outright say which is true so I guess you're supposed to apply your own feminist values on it.