Page 238 - Aesthetic Formations Media, religion, and the Sense
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Prophecy on Stage                  223

          of persons and things—as well as the aspirations engendered by the possibili-
          ties provided to people in a democratic society, represented iconically in these
          celebrities and their success.
       11.  Despite all the media campaigning of its leaders, the Raelian Movement is
          still unknown to many people.
       12.  Here it is worth recalling various studies on the sacred aura attributed to
          media personalities, such as the research into fan clubs and even churches
          built around figures whose fame is converted into divinity. I would single out
          the work of Eloísa Martin on the Argentinean singer Gilda: “No me arrepi-
          ento de este amor. Fan’s clubs y devoción a Gilda, una cantante Argentina” (I
          do not regret this love. Fan Clubs and devotion for Gilda, an Argentine
          singer). In XII Jornadas sobre Alternativas Religiosas na América Latina (XII
          Latin American Seminar on Religious Alternative)s, São Paulo, 2003.
       13.  The history of the Raelian Movement provides numerous indications that the
          relation between followers and Raël has changed significantly over the move-
          ment’s more than 30 years of existence (see  20 ans and Palmer 2004).
          Consequently, this reading of audiovisual mediation is undertaken within the
          current context of the Raelian Movement posterior to these transformations
          and their incorporation into the Raelian ethos.
       14.  At Level 3 in the Structure, the member of the movement becomes an Assistant
          Guide, while at Level 4 and 5, the member becomes a Full Guide, acquiring
          even more responsibilities and status within the movement. Level 6 is occu-
          pied by Raël alone. If persons fail to perform their tasks as a Guide, their level
          is downgraded. If they resume these tasks, they can be repromoted. Being a
          Guide represents an honor in the movement and indicates involvement with
          the Message and its spreading across the planet. It should be stressed that the
          Raelian Guide is not attributed divine qualities. Guides are defined by their
          responsibilities, not their personal attributes.
       15.  The original symbol of the Raelian Movement is extremely polemical: a
          Swastika within a Star of David. Over the years, this symbol was transformed
          into an image that dissolves the Swastika into a spiral form, set within the
          same Star of David. This model was the one used by Madonna in the cited
          photo. The earlier symbol is still used by various Raelian groups and the
          movement’s official argument is that it recuperates the Swastika’s original reli-
          gious symbology, aiming to liberate it from the Nazi distortion of the image.
          However, despite the Raelian interpretation, the symbol containing the
          Swastika has been the target of intense reprisals throughout the Raelian

          Movement’s history.
       16.  “Contact.” Issue No. 286. 11 October 1960 A. H. (Raelian Official Press). It
          should be explained that the Raelian Movement is the target of intense rejec-
          tion by that part of French society that generally works to combat the exis-
          tence and dissemination of new religious movements understood as “sects”
          that manipulate the country’s young people. For this reason, Houellebecq
          stresses the fact that he is the only French person with the title of Honorary
          Guide. Although French, Raël left France due to the intensity of the criticism
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