What is "black magic"

n. (context idiomatic English) magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.

n. the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world [syn: sorcery, black art, necromancy]

Black magic or dark magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes. With respect to the left-hand path and right-hand path dichotomy, black magic is the malicious, left-hand counterpart of benevolent white magic. In modern times, some find that the definition of "black magic" has been convoluted by people who define magic or ritualistic practices that they disapprove of as "black magic".

Black magic refers to evil supernatural magic.

It may also refer to:

is a cyberpunk manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. It was first published as a dōjinshi in 1983, and was later reprinted in tankōbon format by Seishinsha in 1985. The series was later adapted into an OVA in 1987 which was directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo. AIC, and Animate provided the animation/production while Bandai Visual was chosen as the distributer. The OVA is very loosely based on one of the volumes of the manga and centers around the efforts of a female journalist named Sybel to save a young girl from an out-of-control military android created by the girl's grandfather.

Black Magic is a soul album released by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas on the Gordy ( Motown) label in 1972. It is the last studio album issued by the group after ten years with the label. The album is significant for featuring the group's biggest hit of the decade with the Jackson 5-esque " Bless You". The track returned the Vandellas to chart success briefly in the US reaching number fifty-three pop, number twenty-nine R&B and reaching number thirty-three on the UK pop singles chart. It was also a top twenty hit in Canada reaching number sixteen on the chart, and a top ten single in Puerto Rico, where it reached the number two position. Two other subsequent singles, "In and Out of My Life" and "Tear It on Down", were the trio's last Billboard charted hits reaching the top 40 on the R&B charts. "No One There" was released in the UK as a solo single for Reeves . The album has become a cult classic amongst the group's hard core fans.

After this album, the trio later disbanded that December ending the group's ten-year tenure together. Martha Reeves recalls many of the tracks on the album were originally assigned to Diana Ross before being reassigned to the group.

Black Magic is an album by Swollen Members, a Canadian hip hop group. It is their fourth full-length release, not including Monsters In The Closet, their B-sides compilation. This album features guest vocals, including former group member Moka Only on two tracks. The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

Black Magic is the second studio album by Magic Sam released in 1968 by Delmark Records.

Black Magic is a multi-directional scrolling action-adventure game designed by Peter Ward and published by Datasoft in 1987.

Black Magic was a horror anthology comic book series published by American company Prize Comics from 1950 to 1961. The series was packaged by the creative duo Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, and featured non-gory horror content.

After 50 issues as Black Magic, the title's numbering continued for three more issues as the humor comic Cool Cat before being canceled.

Black Magic is a 1949 film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's novel Joseph Balsamo. It was directed by the Russian-born Gregory Ratoff and stars Orson Welles in the lead role as Joseph Balsamo (aka 18th century hypnotist, magician and scam artist Count Cagliostro) and Nancy Guild as Lorenza/ Marie Antoinette. Akim Tamiroff has a featured role.

Black Magic, later retitled Meeting at Midnight for television, is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan.

Black Magic is a 1929 silent drama film directed by George B. Seitz.

Black Magic is a 1975 Hong Kong horror film directed by Ho Meng Hua and starring Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, Tanny Tien, Lily Li and Ku Feng. A sequel to the film was released in 1976.

Black Magic is a 1928 book by the French writer Paul Morand. It focuses on Morand's travels in Sub-Saharan Africa and his encounters with African cultures, which he admires. The book was published in English in 1929, translated by Hamish Miles and with illustrations by Aaron Douglas.

"Black Magic" is a song by British girl group Little Mix. It was written by Camille Purcell, Ed Drewett, Edvard Forre Erfjord and Henrik Michelsen. The Norwegian production duo Electric, who previously worked on the group's second studio album Salute (2013), produced the single with Matt Rad, who is additional producer. It was released as the lead single from their third studio album, Get Weird on 21 May 2015. "Black Magic" received critical acclaim from critics, who praised its upbeat and catchy sound and compared it to songs from their debut album, DNA (2012).

The single topped the UK Singles Chart with combined sales of 113,000, making it the group's first single to top the chart since their 2012 single " Wings". The single also peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Ireland, Israel and Australia, achieving platinum certification in the latter. On the UK Singles Chart, "Black Magic" remained at the top of the chart for three weeks, becoming the first single by a girl group to do so since Sugababes's " About You Now" in October 2007. The song was nominated for Choice Love Song at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. On 17 August 2015, the single debuted at 99 on the US Billboard Hot 100, before rising to number 68 the following week, subsequently becoming their highest peak on the chart thus far. In its third week in the Billboard Hot 100, "Black Magic" climbed one more place to reach a new peak of 67.