Witchcraft Goes Mainstream

Alexander, Brooks. "Chapter 3: Teens and the Media: Witchcraft in Popular Entertainment." Witchcraft Goes Mainstream. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House, 2004. Print.

This paper provides an overview of the beginning of the witch stereotype, an evil and menacing individual, and the appearance of opposing “good” and “bad” witches. Trailblazing media examples are littered throughout the chapter discussing the portrayal of more modern witches like Sabrina from Sabrina the Teenage Witch versus those in earlier works like Macbeth and The Wizard of Oz. The conclusion Alexander came to was that witches in media, like those in television shows and movies, during their peak popularity were reflections of the main female culture of that time period. While

"Becoming A Woman Through Wicca: Witches And Wiccans In Contemporary Teen Fiction." Children's Literature in Education 39 (2008): 43-52. Print.

In Cate Tiernan’s Wiccan series and Isobel Bird’s Circle of Three books, the experiences of teen girls embracing the pagan religion, Wicca, are explored. Spirituality and witchcraft are both brought to light in these books and also promote body confidence and positive exploration of sexuality. Jarvis analyzes how these books expose young girls, especially those active in the Wicca religion, to moral dilemmas, the notion that we are responsible for our own actions, and how in the real world, right and wrong are not always clear choices. This is a paper that emphasizes the empowerment girls can feel through literature. These stories centered around witchcraft encourage adolescent females to think about heavy topics that arise when entering adulthood. This is a good example of the positive effect witchcraft in the media can have on its consumers. I plan to compare and contrast this pro-witchcraft stance with someone who does not believe witchcraft should be explained to individuals at such a young age.

Schnaubelt, Angela. "Stereotypes of Witches in the Movies and on T.V." Suite. Web. 5 Nov.

The interviews revealed that more and more young teens have begun setting up witchcraft alters in their bedrooms, offering prayers to the religion’s deities, and invoking the aid of spirits. Much of the interest comes from girls due to the presence of a female Goddess within the religion, as opposed to just a male God in other popular religions. The Wiccan religion is described as being based in nature that includes Pagan rituals as spell casting. The interview also explores how the media, in the form of television, movies, and young adult fiction books, has promoted this sudden interest in