the evolution of witches in film: the wizard of oz to hocus pocus to american horror story 🍎🔮🧹 

Yeah it's implying being pretty privilege for me but her dress is beautiful

Also halo 😇 effect

It also doesn’t help that the wicked witch of the west fits the stereotypical witch, which is an antisemetic caricature. It just adds a layer of ickiness to it all, considering that Glinda is a white, non-Jewish, woman.

I feel like this could be a video essay in itself!

also in most cases the punishment for a witch's bad behavior was her losing her beauty/youth, and witches only started to become redeemed once they were portrayed as conventionally attractive women

I still have a floppy black hat. Haha.

I was that girl. I remember having a Pinterest board of their outfits from the show cause I found them so cool

Wait , who inspired who ? Because when I watched Coven for the first time this year I saw theit outfits and thought "Wow the costume designers must have used tumblr as inspo" was it actually the other way around where the costumes were the ones that inspired tumblr ?

Wear something... Black

@arielis kinser wow. So ahs coven kinda influenced tumblr.

many series on netflix are trying to use old beloved media as a base for new shows, where they completely misunderstand the purpose of the original and the themes it discussed. the political pandering is also dated, since teens these days handle politics differently

Its both in myopinion

I didn't connect with it because the actress playing Sabrina was super stiff and awkward to watch. Not, relatable awkward, but embarrassing cringey awkward. I think that's why all the Riverdale style shows all fail. They don't interact or act like real people. No one talks or acts like that.

@@taylorslade961 I wonder if the directors are to blame... But the scripts can only be very shitty as well

@@Kurooganeko I think its a combination of bad direction and poor casting. It seems like people were cast more for their appearance rather than acting talent.

Historically men were accused of witchcraft too and executed as witches. Here in Finland in fact more men than women were killed as witches. It’s more modern media that’s gendered the term witch as female, even if witchcraft is gender neural still. Something like wizard of enchantress or fairy have different origins and are more mythological.

@@sarasamaletdin4574 i think the only media were male witches are called "witches" too is the owl house, in all the other ones they call them warlocks or wizards.

@@sarasamaletdin4574 thanks Sara! I never knew Finland has a history of witches as gender-neutral terminology - as men and women were both persecuted under one term as "witch" I am referring to the "witch stereotype" in my comment, as there is no negative contrast in pop culture for men, we never get to see a negative stereotype of a male witch -they are mostly powerful, feared badasses with followers and underlings at the worst, they are old dudes with long beards or gross zombie-like monsters -but still powerful and feared the "witch stereotype" is sexist because it's used as a slur towards women, not men you witch, you hag, babajaga, devil's consort, wicked woman, rotten woman -all are used to put down women

Geralt of Rivia, witcher, says Hmm.

@Beatriz da Costa I can totally understand why it would be annoying, before I even gave Harry Potter a chance I rejected it because I thought the fact they conflated wizards and witches like that was illogical and an insult to magic. The biggest muggle move you can make tbh, how embarassing. It's a difference in the schools of magic! Hogwarts is even called "School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" IS IT NOT? So why pretend it's the same! Huh, Joanne? Is it like saying "School of Mathematic and Calculating" and then going on to call a male Math user a "Mathematician" and a female Math user a "Calculatess"? Or is it like saying "School of Reading and Writing", and then calling a male Language user a "Reader" and a female Language user a "Writer"?

Yes!

It's so underrated!

Totally, I grew up with both the animated and live action Sabrina TV shows!

@Erwin Lii No, because you're absolutely right that movie was tons of fun

@Erwin Lii I grew up on secret life so when I watched the original I was so confused

I feel like most witches in anime are very different from those in US media

Yes!!!!! I absolutely *LOVE* "Kiki's Delivery Service" too. 💗 It's such a cute and wholesome movie. It's the perfect positive representation of witches and such. In fact, I think it might be one of the more grounded and realistic caricatures of a witch. I'm also happy to say that this movie was probably one of my very first exposures to the very concept of a "witch." Very honored to have grown up with this beautiful masterpiece of a movie. As I did with other Studio Ghibli classics. Honorable Mentions: There's also the witch Yu-Baba from "Spirited Away" (another Studio Ghibli masterpiece) who definitely falls under that old, wrinkly, cackley witch woman caricature, look wise. But instead of living in an old run down cottage in the middle of the woods casting spells, she literally runs her own successful business and makes a ton of mula. There's also Zeniba (Yu-Baba's twin sis) who actually does live in a little cottage but it's not run down. And instead of hunting down innocent children in the dead of night, she's literally just the sweetest and wholesome witch grandma you could ever ask for. And then there's entire the "Umineko" franchise. Which probably has some of the most horrifying, gruesome, violent, badass, iconic, classy, sassy, hilarious, meme-worthy, and out of this world gorgeous set of witches I've ever seen in my life. In fact, every single witch in the Umineko universe completely *TRUMPS* every other witch in American media period. Then there's also the anime "Little Witch Academia" which takes on the Mildred Hubble The Worst Witch/Harry Potter caricature by having the witches attend some prestigious witching academy in order to improve and perfect their craft as a witch. Their witchcraft at that. Get it??? Anyway joking aside, it's absolutely incredible and impressive at just how many witch caricatures exist in Japan alone. It's absolutely insane and amazing. 😊👍💜

Very true.

Bonnie should be the protagonist of her own spin-off show, cause she was the best character in the whole franchise.

Her character was the victim of racism from Julie Plec

She's quite different in the book. TV Bonnie is actually 2 characters from the book. [edit] She and Damon had a small thing in the books, though I didn't finish the series.

The epitome of the black-best-friend trope 🥲

she was also a highly moral good witch, like her connection with nature and her identity as a witch was all about protecting the innocent from the supernatural!

You're right, I never thought of it that way. Apparently, Dorothy wasn't pretty enough to be a good witch, since only good witches were beautiful.

That must've hurt Judy Garland, because it was well documented that she had issues with her appearance. MGM even picked her over Shirley Temple because they wanted someone who wasn't too cute.

@@RozWBrazel It makes me angry that all this came out, and these studio execs never had to answer for it. I know show business is an industry that exists to make money, but their methods were inexcusable.

@@gayzell850 I mean she didn't think she was ugly enough to be a bad witch either

That wouldn't be correct. She asks her "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" but also says "Only bad witches are ugly." This would mean that bad witches can be beautiful or ugly but good witches can only be beautiful. If she had thought Dorothy was ugly, she would have immediately assumed she was bad. By asking the question, it assures us that she though Dorothy was at least plain in not attractive. It isn't an insult at all.

The pointed hats and broomsticks likely go back to brewer-women in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, which would have been some of the very few *economically liberated women in that era. The anti-women sentiment of the stereotype may be as old (and seemingly as inevitable) as the anti-Semitic elements you mentioned.

@@vysharra literally not true they were based on "Jew hats" that Jewish people were wearing in medieval Europe

Absolutely. SnappyDragon did a great breakdown of this

This. A thousand times this.

Congratulations you're the seventh know-it-all who now have seen that particular content creators content about how all Witch tropes are anti-semetic. Lemmie tell you something lady you know they're not all anti-Semitic I'm not taking away anything from the ladies of Hebrew extraction out there but as a modern-day Witch I'm having a real issue with this repeated as total fact I'm seeing.

this makes me think of the musical wicked, which purposely wants you to sympathize with the “bad witch” and see how horribly society has treated her for just being who she is

They could have used a different line for example, "How do you know I'm good? good people aren't always pretty people and bad people aren't always ugly people"

It’s just a movie not a political movement. Don’t take it so seriously

@@Error_-ct2vp don't tell people to not take things seriously, people are allowed to criticize shit like this, I don't get why you're making such a big deal out of this tho

@@Error_-ct2vp Nobody ever equated it to politics. :p Also, one can have an opinion on something, without necessarily being overly serious about it.

TBF, this video was mainly focusing on depictions in US media and both those films came from Japan.

@@animeotaku307 true!

@@animeotaku307 I knew there was no room to include them, but I love the witches in The Discworld Series. Granny Weatherwax will always be a badass.

Yeah this video was an exclusively American perspective which made some of it a bit awkward. Like saying that some newer depictions of witches "had no ties to actual witchcraft and instead resembles characters from fairytales" as if that makes any sense ("actual" witchcraft? You mean wicca which is a relatively new concept?) when fairytales have depicted witches long before anything mentioned in this video.

I love those depictions especially Kiki

You're so right, WandaVision explored this concept beautifully. I love that they embraced Wanda's roots by entwining her with popular depictions of the TV witch throughout the ages, contrasting her with Agatha's character who represents the classic persecuted and vengeance-obsessed, power-hungry witch, and it all culminates in restoring Wanda's original X-Men superhero name of Scarlet Witch. There's a lot of awareness of the evolution of the witch in popular media.

Nah, WandaVision can fuck off, the whole MCU can fuck off unless they give us a Jewish, Rroma Wanda again, they're far from treating the figure of the witch and going against her demonization if not doing that, sorry.

@@lotsanew I mean I respect your opinion, and I do agree that Wanda should have most definitely been played by a WOC but the show is pretty well written. Also your opinion doesn't go for everyone so saying "us" is a bit of generalization

@@lotsanew i agree wanda should’ve been played by a romani and jewish actor, but that’s not really all of the cast and crew’s fault (especially since some of the cast have talked about the rascism and misogyny within the cast and crew), also the mcu has been introducing poc, lgbtq+ and women characters recently (but i do agree they should have characters of a variety of different religions),

Wanda is a terrible person. You clearly aren’t a real marvel fan to know that since it’s clear in the comics

And also granny from both adaptations that subverted the tropes of both the ugly hag and the spiteful mother-in-law.

Both are excellent

Yeah

Both characters served a slightly different purpose, but both important

Omg I watched that. It was so similar to Harry Potter it’s crazy.

It was fab fun

Coven is still my favorite installment of the American Horror Story series.

@Erwin Lii yes!!!! I loved her style

I LOVED THAT TRILOGY ♥️♥️♥️

and also LESBIANS

YES!!

I adore Yennefer and although most fans who have a remotely critical thought in their heads can recognise that Geralt is a man who doesn't necessarily recognise his true self (inherently desiring to do the right thing even though he claims to be neutral and also that he doesn't care about how others treat him) they can't think of Yennefer in the same way. She is from an abusive home and has never known real love. She believed that her power, ambition and finally a beautiful appearance would help her achieve it, damn the cost*. But still finds herself unhappy and alone. She wants to have a child in part because she wants to be loved so badly, and sees it as the easiest way to get unconditional love and be a child's entire world (and coming from nothing has made her want to have so much). Deep down that is almost certainly her real reason for wanting a child. But many people seemingly have only seen 'angry cold infertile lady' rather than the multifaceted person she really is. I'm a book reader and one of her most important relationships (her relationship with Ciri) is about to begin, which I adore and hope they do it justice. *So in the books practicing magic basically atrophies your reproductive organs and you get beautified as a form of prestige for the sorceress brand as it were (of course there's no such pressure on the sorcerers, who are allowed to be old and ugly). It's absolutely mandatory for all, there's no fancy "get a Hysto if you ever want to be pretty" which I think changed how some people saw Yennefer, thinking she's just bitter when she did this to herself. Realising that like Geralt, she doesn't necessarily recognise her true self (she wants unconditional love more than she wants to be a parent specifically) seems to make people more receptive to her character in the show or short stories when I've talked about her to people with a very dull view of her character.

I haven't read books/haven't played games so If I watch the show do i understand what is going on?

@@lilyluna6391 I hadn't done any of those things either and I still enjoyed it. The first season is pretty much sort of a introduction to all the characters and heavily centered on world building. It'll take a little focus on understanding because of ways I don't want to spoil, but later it all falls into place and is an enjoyable show ingeneral.

@@lilyluna6391 The first season timeline is a bit difficult to understand at first but if you watch it closely than you'll understand. I watched the season twice. But I really really enjoyed the show. The show actually got me into the books. I think you should give it a try

@@lilyluna6391 Yea you'll understand. The games actually take place like 20 years after the events of the show. The books are what the show is based on. Prior to watching the show I didn't play the games or read the books either. The timeline at first is confusing but after episode 6 or so you'll piece together the timeline and it will be this huge "Aha!" moment for you. Would definitely recommend.

'Yes, well....there's a little Witch in all of us'

Ummmm...to YOU all....we always have been...

witches were always fabulous, they exist since the pre-history and were always women (and men) living their lives without harming anybody, all these bad/evil and ugly witches stereotype were made by the church because they couldn't bare powerful women + someone who had a belief other than their god

@@SallyOnceArmy noo I mean in movies their fashion choices improved alot for witches

@@SallyOnceArmy you are absolutely correct

@@Sirensscales what do you think we have a uniform or dress code?.... If they were bad don't blame the character...blame it's creator...same goes for the improved style...a Witch can dress outrageously or just like the most conservative Karen. Now we do all have a particular sense of style and a certain and different way we look at things and feel we are outliers... .mostly we dress with little concern for the appreciation or estimation of the. Nomajis and thier conformity of social display and taste...now go ahead ask me why we mostly like to wear alot of black...or white....clothing....its an intuitively understanding cuz of what they can do beyond the surface appearances...

The Owl House is simply the best thing Disney has ever created. Even better than Amphibia or Gravity Falls.

I was thinking about The Owl House too! Absolutely love that show sadly it’s extremely underrated. Unless your into watching cartoons (me) than you won’t even know it’s exists 😔

It’s for kids and y’all are just being extra

@@Error_-ct2vp so was the animated sabrina the teenage witch and wizards of waverly place that she both mentioned in the video so my point still stands

@@sams_not_here that’s different tho. That’s for entertainment and shit. You’re just being too dramatic like most women

THAT!! Out of curiosity, I just did a quick search on Lena Horne (who played the good witch in The Wiz) ancestry; “Both sides of her family were African American with a mixture of African, Native American, and European ancestry. She belonged to the upper stratum of middle-class, well-educated Black people” (Wikipedia).

Thank you! Colorism is a big problem in media too.

Dianna Ross played the good witch... her kids are mixed but she isn't

You guys are talking about the live plays. Many women played the good witch in the live adaptations

Very good point.

I was hoping for this comment as I was waiting in the video to mention antisemitism. The route of witch imagery and their stereotyped character to obsess for money/looks/power ('stealing children') were highly antisemitic

The hat actually has multiple origins, at some points that type of hat was just a trendy hat

That is a terrifying thought

oh no

I hope they do it as a tv series format so they can fit all the book parts that they couldn't in the movies.

@@RozWBrazel Well I don't disagree with that neither. Hate JK.

I think when J.K Rowling deceases then they could maybe go the tv show route. Until then I don’t want them to make more Potter media because it just lines her hypocritical and arrogant pockets.

Absolutely!! 😍

Definitely, it's one of my favourite fashion channels for that reason alone!

Truly. Never clicked a video so fast. I so look forward to each video she drops and though I’ve been working full time this is the channel I still keep up with recent uploads most

Pokhraj Roy I've seen you in almost every video of tried and refused productions so hi

Voudun is it's own Religion. While i as a Witch call them Brother and Sister as they have connection influence and are within the Greater Curcle if modern Neopagan or Pagan belief....the practitioners of Voudun have titles we should use. Mambo for women Hougan for the men.

@@LucianCorrvinus very informative,I did not know that. I wasn’t certain if Mambo and Hougan counted as witches. Thank you for the clarification.

"bobbing along, bobbing along, on the bottom of the beautiful, briny sea!"

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is an underrated classic, I love it

@@thaisgregorio2734 I adored this movie as a kid. Angela Lansbury is so delightful, and this was before I knew she had a career as the "bad girl."

I never realized Mary Poppins was a witch. Like duh, of course she is.

@@beatm6948 I mean she might be a time lord, but I could see Victorian humans thinking that’s a witch too 😹

Same but i still have to watch The Craft

I would have like to seen her too, she’s an excellent example of an antihero witch, WandaVision draws heavily from Bewitched, and Agatha contrasts Wanda as a more classical witch character (who’s also about to get her own show)

Yeah, they're great examples for the evolution of the witches

MCU Wanda deserved better, she was Romani and Jewish in the comics 😔.

@@myasmith1820 nah you're just one of those people that complains about everything. Elizabeth Olsen is doing a fantastic job in portraying Wanda Maximoff, it is what it is hon take it or leave it

@@myasmith1820 wanda was still romani in the mcu

Yea it was meant to portray that time period.

Unfortunately, I feel like the dialogue is so obviously out of the 2010's that it takes me out of the aesthetic and fantasy of the movie sometimes.

Evolution of princesses would be really fun in my opinion too. Also it would show that some tropes come outside of Disney people often just think of. Although what modern princess is is pretty defined by Disney Iike Mulan being put to princess line for heroism (and being a popular lead in a film unlike someone like Eilonwy).

Indeed, Halloween is the best time to upload this video!

yes yes yes or willow, her style is so awesome

Ditto, it's always a treat when Tessa uploads! ♥️

Penny Dreadful is such an incredible show. So sad how underrated it is. It's one of my all time faves!!

@@clubjema I know right! 🥺

@Erwin Lii I think this video did talk about WITCH. But I don't know if it's the same one that you are talking about. I haven't watched it.

@@clubjema hey fellow Dreadfuls. Agreed, Vannessa is definitely a witch.

I really hate that they all them "witches". It's used as a derogatory term. Women in such powerful roles are always called witches. Why not sorceress? Mage? Enchanter? I saw this in Star Wars EU as well. Men are called Sith Lords. Women are called Sith witches. 🙄

@@benjalucian1515 high priestesses

even though the Craft depicted in the media is supernatural and/or fantastic in setting, not natural magic (as in nature and psychology)

Happy Samhain and blessed be. 💜🌟🌙

Same. I wasn't happy with the ending either, but I liked all the seasons.

witches of east end had a nasty cancelation 😭😭

TOP THAT!

No because it’s bad

@@Error_-ct2vp That’s why it’s sooo good 😆

Just please...when you write us Witches into future stories? Please remember that at best the public-at-large doesn't believe we exist or that we are somehow hippy-dippy dreamers lost in a fantasy make-believe world... Or were the tools of the devil... And it just how you we are portrayed in that story accordingly by making his either so Fantastical we could be nothing but character or grounding it in some reality about the faith in the crafts. This Witch of 30-plus years would appreciate that thank you

I believe Hayes was Catholic and took direct inspiration frim the Council or was it League if Decency...a Catholic group....

Yeah, neither wanda or fear street, the most relevant depictions at the moment.

1992.

Hello Amity Blight

YESS