I've noticed over the past few years on how witchcraft and witches in Hollywood or general films are portrayed. This is even seen in things like books and news. In Harry Potter, most witches and wizards are of old age (if not already a student at Hogwarts) and either practice dark witchcraft/wizardry OR "basic" witchcraft/wizardry- which I usually refer to as the building blocks of witchcraft/wizardry such as simple, quick spells. The Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus (1 & 2) are portrayed as greedy and egotistical witches, and can be seen as slobby and/or ugly. These are not the only films showing these kind of portrayals though. From Halloweentown to even Disney films like Brave, witches and wizards are constantly portrayed negatively in media, in physical and/or emotional terms.
I think these portrayals are casted because of the beliefs in medieval Europe on witches. These beliefs could have spread across the world, and possibly even to the United States, where about 600-800 films are produced & published annually.[1] This spread in beliefs could have impacted how the United States production and publishing companies viewed witches and witchcraft, leading to the well-known films and books about witchcraft today. However, the United States is not the only location that could have been impacted by this. Harry Potter is not an American book or film series, and both versions were created entirely in Britain.[2]
I personally believe we should try and fix these kind of stereotypes. Not just in witchcraft and witch portrayals, but all sorts of stereotypical portrayals. Racial stereotypes, ableist stereotypes, all sorts of things. If we avoid these stereotypes and add truth & knowledge to characters being put in these portrayals, we can help audiences better understand how others live and experience their lives.
However, I want to know your opinions! What do you think about the Hollywood and general films' portrayals of witches? Are there any other films or books you know that have these kind of portrayals, or maybe even go against it? I'd love to know!
Thank you for reading this. I know it might have been a little short (especially these last three paragraphs), but I'm still grateful you were able to read it and decided to. Again, thank you and have a nice rest of your day!
References
1. (February 2023) U.S. & Canada: movie releases per year 2022 | Statista
2. Russell, J. (19 November 2010) Harry Potter - Hogwarts and all - is Britain's top model.
I think these portrayals are casted because of the beliefs in medieval Europe on witches. These beliefs could have spread across the world, and possibly even to the United States, where about 600-800 films are produced & published annually.[1] This spread in beliefs could have impacted how the United States production and publishing companies viewed witches and witchcraft, leading to the well-known films and books about witchcraft today. However, the United States is not the only location that could have been impacted by this. Harry Potter is not an American book or film series, and both versions were created entirely in Britain.[2]
I personally believe we should try and fix these kind of stereotypes. Not just in witchcraft and witch portrayals, but all sorts of stereotypical portrayals. Racial stereotypes, ableist stereotypes, all sorts of things. If we avoid these stereotypes and add truth & knowledge to characters being put in these portrayals, we can help audiences better understand how others live and experience their lives.
However, I want to know your opinions! What do you think about the Hollywood and general films' portrayals of witches? Are there any other films or books you know that have these kind of portrayals, or maybe even go against it? I'd love to know!
Thank you for reading this. I know it might have been a little short (especially these last three paragraphs), but I'm still grateful you were able to read it and decided to. Again, thank you and have a nice rest of your day!
References
1. (February 2023) U.S. & Canada: movie releases per year 2022 | Statista
2. Russell, J. (19 November 2010) Harry Potter - Hogwarts and all - is Britain's top model.
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