Magic and Symbolic Power in Contemporary Culture Philosophical and sociocultural perspectives from Giordano Bruno to Castoriadis.

Abstract

This article analyzes the relevance of symbolic power and magic in contemporary culture, revisiting the philosophical and hermetic tradition of Giordano Bruno and articulating it with contributions from modern authors such as Castoriadis, Taylor, Bourdieu, and Eco. The main objective is to demonstrate how symbolic language, far from disappearing with modernity, has been reconfigured within social imaginaries and cultural practices, especially through the media and cultural industries. The methodology is theoretical and critical, adopting a comparative approach between classical sources and contemporary debates on symbolism, power, and the construction of meaning. In conclusion, it is argued that magic, understood not in its esoteric dimension but as a cultural practice, remains a key device for understanding the production of meanings and the dynamics of power in current societies.