The Cards: The Evolution and Power of Tarot

by Patrick Maille

Tarot cards have been around since the Renaissance and have become increasingly popular in recent years, often due to their prevalence in popular culture. While Tarot means many different things to many different people, the cards somehow strike universal chords that can resonate through popular culture in the contexts of art, television, movies, even comic books. The symbolism within the cards, and the cards as symbols themselves, make Tarot an excellent device for the media of popular culture in numerous ways. They make horror movies scarier. They make paintings more provocative. They provide illustrative structure to comics and can establish the traits of television characters. The Evolution and Power of Tarot begins with an extensive review of the history of Tarot from its roots as a game to its supposed connection to ancient Egyptian magic, through its place in secret societies, and to its current use in meditation and psychology. This section ends with an examination of the people who make up today’s tarot community. Then, specific areas of popular culture—art, television, movies, and comics—are each given a chapter in which to survey the use of Tarot. In this section, author Patrick Maille analyzes such works as Deadpool , Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman, Disney's Haunted Mansion , Sherlock Game of Shadows , The Andy Griffith Show , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and King of the Hill . The cards are evocative images in their own right, but the mystical fascination they inspire makes them a fantastic tool to be used in our favorite shows and stories.

Genres: Nonfiction

260 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2021

Reviews

[coco's reading]

Over the summer, I began my tarot study and found where tarot fits in my life as a tool for helping me contextualize whatever's going on at any given moment. This book sounded like an approachable exploration of tarot throughout the past, present, and future. I was less interested in the part about tarot and popular culture and already knew it wouldn't be my favorite going in, but I still found several elements useful here because, as a creative writer, the focus on tarot and narrative was enlightening. By far the chapters I enjoyed most were on tarot's history and art, and for those in my life who are more unsure of tarot, I now feel confident that I have enough historical knowledge to provide them a clear and accurate understanding of what tarot is and isn't.

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This useful academic study considers the history of Tarot, its place in U.S. culture in particular, and the role it has played in art, television, film, and comics.