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Screaming, Flying, and Laughing: Magical Feminism's Witches in Contemporary Film, Television and Novels
This project argues that there is a previously unnamed canon of literature called
Magical Feminism which exists across many current popular (even lowbrow) genres
such as science-fiction, fantasy, so-called realistic literature, and contemporary
television and film. I define Magical Feminism as a genre quite similar to Magical
Realism, but assert that its main political thrust is to model a feminist agency for its
readers. To define this genre, I closely-read the image of the female magic user as one
of the most important Magical Feminist metaphors. I argue that the female magic
user–commonly called the witch, but also labeled priestess, mistress, shaman, mambo,
healer, midwife– is a metaphor for female unruliness and disruption to patriarchy and
as such, is usually portrayed as evil and deserving of punishment. I assert that many
(although not all) of the popular texts this genre includes are overlooked or ignored by
the academy, and thus, that an important focus for contemporary feminism is missed.
When the texts are noticed by parts of the academy, they are mostly considered popular
culture novelty acts, not serious political genres. As part of my argument, I analyze third wave feminism’s attempt to reconcile traits previously considered less than
feminist, such as the domestic. I also deconstruct the popular media’s negative
portrayal of contemporary feminism and the resulting reluctance for many young
women to identify themselves as feminist. I also argue that this reluctance goes hand in
hand with a growing attempt to seek new models for empowering female
epistemologies. My assertion is that these texts are the classrooms where many readers
learn their feminism. Finally, I list a short bibliography as a way of defining canon of
texts that should be considered Magical Feminist.
Magical Feminism which exists across many current popular (even lowbrow) genres
such as science-fiction, fantasy, so-called realistic literature, and contemporary
television and film. I define Magical Feminism as a genre quite similar to Magical
Realism, but assert that its main political thrust is to model a feminist agency for its
readers. To define this genre, I closely-read the image of the female magic user as one
of the most important Magical Feminist metaphors. I argue that the female magic
user–commonly called the witch, but also labeled priestess, mistress, shaman, mambo,
healer, midwife– is a metaphor for female unruliness and disruption to patriarchy and
as such, is usually portrayed as evil and deserving of punishment. I assert that many
(although not all) of the popular texts this genre includes are overlooked or ignored by
the academy, and thus, that an important focus for contemporary feminism is missed.
When the texts are noticed by parts of the academy, they are mostly considered popular
culture novelty acts, not serious political genres. As part of my argument, I analyze third wave feminism’s attempt to reconcile traits previously considered less than
feminist, such as the domestic. I also deconstruct the popular media’s negative
portrayal of contemporary feminism and the resulting reluctance for many young
women to identify themselves as feminist. I also argue that this reluctance goes hand in
hand with a growing attempt to seek new models for empowering female
epistemologies. My assertion is that these texts are the classrooms where many readers
learn their feminism. Finally, I list a short bibliography as a way of defining canon of
texts that should be considered Magical Feminist.
287 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 17, 2021
"The witch appears again and again in literary texts that seek to represent and understand women's power, and thus remains a formidable icon of gym-critical feminist work, and a major part of the genre of Magical Feminism."
May 13, 2024
so insightful! magical feminism/magical realism
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews