The term Voodoo doll is commonly employed to describe an effigy into which pins are inserted. Although it comes in various different forms, such practices are found in the magical traditions of many cultures across the world. Although the use of the term "Voodoo" implies that the practice has links to either the religion of Haitian Vodou or Louisiana Voodoo, in reality it does not have a prominent place in either.

History

In European history

The form of the voodoo doll as it is most commonly understood is based on a magical practice that historically derived from Europe rather than Africa or the Americas. Textual records attest to the fact that certain cunning folk in Britain made dolls of a witch out of rags and other materials and then pierced them with pins with the intention of inflicting physical harm on the witch and breaking their bewitchment.

20th century link with Voodoo

The link between this magical practice and Voodoo was established through the presentation of the latter in Western popular culture during the first half of the 20th century. In this, the myth of this magical practice being closely linked to Voodoo and Vodou was promoted as part of the wider negative depictions of blacks and Afro-Caribbean religious practices in the United States. In John Houston Craige's Back Baghdad: The Arabian Nights Adventures of a Marine Captain in Haiti, he described a Haitian prisoner sticking pins into an effigy to induce illness. Its use also appeared in film representations of Haitian Vodou such as Victor Halperin's 1932 White Zombie and Jacques Tourneurs 1943 I Walked with a Zombie.

A voodoo doll, or more commonly known as a Louisiana Voodoo doll, is a supposedly magical object associated with some forms of voodoo and folk magic.

Voodoo doll may also refer to:

Film and TV

Games and Sports

Music

Songs

Voodoo is the first studio album by the South Korean boy band VIXX. It was released on November 25, 2013 under the label of Jellyfish Entertainmentt. It features the single "Voodoo Doll".

Promotion

VIXX first performed "Voodoo Doll" live during their Milky Way Global Showcase finale concert in Seoul which took place on November 17, 2013. The first broadcast performance of "Voodoo Doll" was shown on November 20 through a televised premiere of VIXX's finale concert on SBS MTV. Later that same day, VIXX had their first comeback stage on MBC Music's Show Champion, performing both "Only U" and "Voodoo Doll". On December 6, the group won their first music show award on Music Bank with "Voodoo Doll".

Singles

"Only U"

"Only U" (Hangul: 대답은 너니까; RR: Daedabeun Neonikka; lit. "Because You're the Answer") served as a pre-release single. It was produced by songwriter Shinsadong Tiger, and co-produced by 4Beontaja and Jellyfish Entertainment CEO Hwang Se-jun. Shinsadong Tiger and 4Beontaja arranged the song. VIXX's rapper Ravi teamed up with writer Kim Ji-hyang to write the lyrics.