Witches! A Primer
Summary
Hosts Lizzie and Chris explore the history of witch depictions in film, tracing the archetype from the 15th-century Malleus Maleficarum and the Salem trials to modern cinema. They analyze how societal fears, the printing press, and the rise of Christianity shaped the "evil witch" trope, while later works like The Craft and Practical Magic reclaimed the figure as a symbol of female power and sisterhood. The episode connects historical persecution to contemporary storytelling, highlighting how witches serve as a "canary in the coal mine" for how society treats women.
Topics discussed
Intro, Patreon notice, and Citizens Bank ad
Welcome and discussion of witch movies
Witches as a canary in the coal mine
Heinrich Kramer and the Malleus Maleficarum
The printing press and the start of witch hunts
Ancient magic and the definition of a witch
Saint Augustine and the demonization of pagans
Quince and Monarch ads
Medieval witchcraft beliefs and legal categories
Accusations, paranoia, and the role of healers
Tangential discussion on voice analysis and bias
Shakespeare's Macbeth and the three witches
The Salem witch trials of 1692
Article and Square ads
The end of trials and the Brothers Grimm
The Wizard of Oz and visual tropes
The Love Witch and the Feminine Mystique
The 1990s witch reclamation and The Craft
Teen witch TV shows and Practical Magic
Verizon, Times Square, and Amex ads
Practical Magic aesthetics and character dynamics
2010s serious witches and the 2020s shift
Analysis of the film Weapons and modern witch imagery
Conclusion and teaser for next episode
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