Topic - Talks and Lectures, Schools and Colleges, Research Events
Driven to pop-culture heights on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, ‘Witch Tok’ is captivating audiences worldwide with videos amassing more than 30 billion views on this historical and modern-day phenomenon. Join us, on witches-eve, as we delve into this fascinating topic.
For some, 31 October, Halloween is celebrated as Witches’ New Year, still acknowledged as a powerful spiritual milestone. The witch has held a place firmly in our imagination for centuries.
Let us consider, why and how The Witch is such a key figure in folklore and fairy tales on both the big screen and in books. Let’s explore the history of witches, their persecution throughout the ages, and their portrayal in film, media, and literature. And why are crystals, tarot readings, and witchcraft Magik once again becoming a form of feminist resistance?
Our discussions will give you insight into the modules studied on the following undergraduate degrees.
Criminology: Witchcraft Hysteria: Unravelling the Roots of Female Persecution
This discussion delves into the dark history of witch hunts and the deep-rooted misogyny that fuelled them. During medieval Europe thousands of women were accused of witchcraft, often targeted for defying societal norms, displaying independence, or simply being misunderstood. By exploring the intersection of fear, power, and gender, we will uncover how these accusations became tools of oppression, reinforcing patriarchal control and silencing women. Join us as we trace the historical and cultural forces behind the persecution of women branded as witches and examine how these ancient biases still echo in modern times
Film and Media: Only bad witches are ugly: witches and the monstrous feminine in horror
This session will consider how horror cinema has embodied cultural anxieties around women via an exploration of the changing depiction of witches. From The Wizard of Oz and Disney’s early witches to the likes of Marvel’s Scarlet Witch in the contemporary period. The figure of The Witch has served as a vehicle to punish women for daring to be ‘different’.
Psychology: Witch Identities: Socio-Cultural Perspectives of Beliefs
This talk explores the differing global socio-cultural interpretations and representations of what being a 'witch' and 'witchcraft' involve across historical and contemporary contexts. It will consider why and how presentations of witches and magical practices can be understood through psychological frameworks of beliefs, fears, social and self-identities, and what these might mean for individuals and socio-cultural norms.
English: How are witches represented in fiction and folklore?
There are good and bad witches, and some that are in between. Come along and find out how different witches have been portrayed in fiction and folklore and if they have been rightly titled the good or bad.
If you have any questions, please contact events.recruitment@sunderland.ac.uk.