Correction of a Falsified Image
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most o f the viewers of the film as well— Voodoo, hoodoo, hexing,
fixing, and conjure, etc. are Synonyms. She is unaware, first, that Voodoo
is a religion with elaborate rituals and ceremonies; second, that hoodoo is
an Affican folk magic that includes the belief in and use o f charms, roots,
and fortunetelling and can be used “for both good and evil” (Malbrough
4); third, that the term conjure is often used interchangeably with the
term Hoodoo, but never with the term Voodoo; fourth, that conjure
implies “both magic and herbal medicine,” and fifth, that in New
Orleans, Voodoo and Hoodoo complement each other (Anderson,
Conjure xii). Peculiar to the crescent city, we find a Voodoo Hoodoo
construct that dates back to the early nineteenth Century when Marie
Laveau added the magical component to the Affican-European blend o f
Voodoo and Catholicism.
Upon entering the attic, Caroline discovers a culture that is very
foreign to her, and that she (probably) only “knows” through the eyes o f
Hollywood’s horror movies. Hence, it must be something ffightening and
dangerous. Even though no dolls are placed on any altar, the fearinspiring notion o f Voodoo dolls is apparent in the film’s Chapters 7 and
12. As unanimated objects affiliated with black magic that can harm
body and soul, the Voodoo dolls in Softley’s film signify danger. In both
film chapters, the Voodoo doll has Caroline’s body size and height, and
almost looks like a mummification o f her body, whose eyes and mouth
are stitched together in order to silence and blind her. Whereas in
Chapter 7, the Voodoo doll is an integral part o f the attic, in Chapter 12,
the same Voodoo doll is a projection o f Caroline’s disturbed mind. Her
sleep is interrupted by her vivid dream imagery that is enriched with
“fear inspiring images o f conjure, black magic, and the [unlimited]
power o f Voodoo dolls” (Reuber 17). In her dream, she sees the two
former house servants, Papa Justify and Mama Cecile in the attic,
wearing bone necklaces, singing and shaking. She sees two children
sitting on the ground, surrounded by chalk drawings and a ring o f white
candles. W hile Papa Justify and Mama Cecile appear to exp \