What makes a woman a witch? What kinds of stereotypes do witches in movies share with women? What is the source of these stereotypes? How are good and bad witches portrayed in movies and how is “white” magic depicted? In order to investigate these questions, I am going to conduct an analysis of the witches' depiction in three different, contemporary movies.
My hypothesis is that despite multiple attempts to reform the movie character of the witch, for example via the introduction of “white magic” or good-hearted witches who support the protagonists, their depiction still consists of mainly negative, female stereotypes, so that an unchanged negative representation of the female gender can be observed in the movies I am going to analyse.
This paper is structured as follows. First, I am going to start with a historical contextualization of the topic. In order to investigate the origin of the idea of “witchcraft” there will be an analysis of the historical events that led to its creation. Hereby, I will investigate the sources of the stereotypical “witch”. Therefore, I will provide an overview of the persecution of a “heretical” movement, which correlates with the later witch-hunts. Then, I will investigate the mental frame that led to the witch persecutions and the influence of the Catholic Church on the common sense in order to understand the development of this phenomena. After that, I will have a closer look on the characteristics of “witches” as women in order to clarify the stereotypes concering gender.
Furthermore, I will introduce and discuss specific aspects of film theory, which are essential for the following analysis of the movies. Subsequently, based on the film theoretical aspects, I am going to analyse the depiction of witches in the movies “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters”, “The Last Witch Hunter”, and “The Witch”. Finally, I will finish this paper by concluding the overall outcome and by answering the research questions and the question whether my hypothesis was confirmed, based on my findings.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Creation of the Western "Witch"
- 2.1 The Cathars in Western Europe
- 2.2 The Medieval Mindset, Heretics and Witches
- 2.3 What makes a Witch a Witch?
- 2.4 What makes a Woman a Witch?
- 3. Film Theory
- 4. Film Analysis
- 4.1 "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters"
- 4.1.1 Summary
- 4.1.2 Film Theoretical and Gender Analysis
- 4.2 "The Last Witch Hunter"
- 4.2.1 Summary
- 4.2.2 Film Theoretical and Gender Analysis
- 4.3 "The Witch"
- 4.3.1 Summary
- 4.3.2 Film Theoretical and Gender Analysis
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of witches in contemporary American movies, examining how these portrayals reflect and perpetuate existing gender stereotypes. The study investigates the historical origins of the "witch" figure and explores how film theory can illuminate the cinematic representations of witches. It focuses on three specific films to conduct a detailed analysis of the themes and stereotypes present.
- The historical development of the "witch" archetype and its connection to misogyny.
- The perpetuation of negative female stereotypes in contemporary cinematic representations of witches.
- The use of "white magic" and benevolent witches as attempts to subvert traditional stereotypes.
- The application of film theory to analyze the chosen films' representation of gender and monstrosity.
- The exploration of the relationship between witchcraft and gender in popular culture.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central research question: How do contemporary movies depict witches, and do these depictions perpetuate negative female stereotypes? It introduces the historical context of witchcraft accusations, highlighting the disproportionate targeting of women and the ongoing cultural influence of the witch figure in popular media, referencing the work of Carol F. Karlsen. The chapter outlines the methodology, focusing on analyzing three selected films to assess the representation of witches and explore whether attempts to reform the image of the witch have been successful. The author presents a hypothesis that despite attempts at reform, negative stereotypes persist.
2. The Creation of the Western "Witch": This chapter delves into the historical origins of the Western conception of the witch, examining its evolution through time. It explores the persecution of the Cathars as a precedent for later witch hunts and analyzes the medieval mindset that fueled these persecutions, emphasizing the role of religious beliefs, fears, and superstitions. The chapter also investigates the characteristics attributed to historical witches, particularly focusing on the connection between women and witchcraft, exploring the development of gendered stereotypes surrounding the witch figure.
3. Film Theory: This chapter (the content of which is not provided in the text excerpt) would likely introduce key concepts and theories from film studies that will be used to analyze the selected movies in the following chapter. This may include theories of representation, gender studies in film, and relevant approaches to analyzing cinematic narratives.
4. Film Analysis: This chapter (the content of which is partially provided but not fully detailed in the text excerpt) would consist of detailed analyses of three selected contemporary films featuring witches. Each film would be subjected to a thorough examination using the film theories introduced in Chapter 3, investigating the representation of witches, their characteristics, and the interplay between the cinematic portrayal and the historical context laid out in Chapter 2. The analysis would explore whether the films perpetuate or subvert traditional gender stereotypes associated with witches.
Keywords
Witchcraft, gender, film analysis, female stereotypes, contemporary cinema, historical context, misogyny, "white magic", monster, popular culture, film theory.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Witch Portrayals in Contemporary American Cinema
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes how contemporary American movies portray witches and whether these portrayals perpetuate negative female stereotypes. It examines the historical origins of the "witch" figure and uses film theory to illuminate cinematic representations.
Which films are analyzed in this study?
The study focuses on three specific films: "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters," "The Last Witch Hunter," and "The Witch." Each film undergoes a detailed analysis of its themes and stereotypes regarding witches.
What is the historical context explored in the paper?
The paper investigates the historical development of the "witch" archetype, tracing its roots to the persecution of groups like the Cathars and examining the medieval mindset that fueled witch hunts. It highlights the disproportionate targeting of women and the connection between women and witchcraft, exploring the development of gendered stereotypes.
What film theories are likely used in the analysis?
While the specific theories aren't listed in this preview, the paper mentions using concepts and theories from film studies to analyze the selected movies. These likely include theories of representation, gender studies in film, and approaches to analyzing cinematic narratives.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the historical development of the "witch" archetype and its connection to misogyny; the perpetuation of negative female stereotypes in contemporary cinema; the use of "white magic" and benevolent witches as attempts to subvert stereotypes; the application of film theory to analyze gender and monstrosity; and the exploration of the relationship between witchcraft and gender in popular culture.
What is the methodology of this research?
The methodology involves analyzing three selected films to assess the representation of witches and explore whether attempts to reform the image of the witch have been successful. The author hypothesizes that negative stereotypes persist despite such attempts.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview provides summaries for the introduction (establishing the research question and methodology), the chapter on the historical creation of the Western "witch," and an overview of the chapters on film theory and film analysis. The introduction highlights the work of Carol F. Karlsen. The historical chapter explores the persecution of the Cathars and the medieval mindset leading to witch hunts. The film theory chapter is described but not detailed, while the film analysis chapter outlines the in-depth analyses of the three chosen movies using film theory.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Witchcraft, gender, film analysis, female stereotypes, contemporary cinema, historical context, misogyny, "white magic," monster, popular culture, and film theory.
What is the overall objective of this study?
The paper aims to analyze how contemporary movies depict witches and to determine if those depictions reinforce negative female stereotypes. It seeks to understand the historical roots of the "witch" figure and how film theory can shed light on its cinematic representations.
- Quote paper
- M.Ed. Timmy Paul (Author), 2018, Witchcraft and Gender. The Depiction of Women and Witches in Contemporary American Movies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1169270
