Danielle Stemen Presnell ENG 1103 1 April 2013 The Modern-Day Witch: Evaluative Works Cited Arbel, Ilil.

Witchcraft. Encyclopedia Mythica. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. This article discusses witchcraft in its modern element. It provides a few examples of some of their fundamental beliefs and practices. It talks about the importance of covens, or practicing Wicca in groups, rather than alone, which can be psychologically detrimental, according to Arbel. The article also discusses how witchcraft is more than just spellsit is a religion that uses power for good. Wiccans believe that each person gives off what they call the Aura, a personal electromagnetic field. Modern witches also firmly believe in the significance of out of body experiences. They also believe this is where the legend of flying came from. In 1951, laws against witchcraft were repealed, allowing witches to come out of hiding and practice the Craft. There are two major systems in Witchcraft: the Celtic tradition and one led by Gerald Gardner (the father of Wiccans). After researching the author of the article, Ilil Arbel, I found that she has a Ph.D. in mythology and folklore. Her works have been published by Encyclopedia Mythica (where I found the article) and other well-known sites, like Amazon.com and others. She is also a part of Authors Guild, Biographers International Organization, American Society of Indexers, and Angela Thirkell Society of North America, so I thought her work to be credible. Fry, Carrol L. Cinema of the Occult: New Age, Satanism, Wicca, and Spiritualism in Film. Bethlehem: Lehigh UP, 2008. Print. The author of this book approached the exact topic I am researching: Wiccan belief and its depiction in popular culture. One chapter in particular really caught my attention and provided tons of information: Season of the Witch. This chapter provides specific examples of movies, in which witches are portrayed in either a negative or a positive light. The author also provides input as to why witches are depicted the way they are. He uses the witch trials in Salem in 1692 as one explanation, calling it an event that has captured the American popular imagination ever since, and created a more suspicious view of witchcraft charges. Back then, the church taught

that witches were servants of the Devil, which has probably led to the stereotype that modernday witches are Satanists. This chapter also addresses Wiccan beliefs and how their practices vary amongst individuals and different covens. Wicca arose in the 1960s and because of legendary views of witches, Wiccans were still perceived as evil. This book provides several movies as examples of how modern-day witches are portrayed incorrectly, such as The Wicker Man, Season of the Witch, The Witches of Eastwick, and many others. When researching the author, Carrol Fry, I found that he taught at Minnesota State University and had his work published by Rosemont Publishing and Printing Corporation. Along with this book, he has published works about 18th century British literature, fantasy literature, and science fiction literature. The book also provides a Works Cited page, where you can look up his sources and references, so I found this book to be very credible. "Pagan Group Dispels Rumors via Open Circle." ARMY.MIL, The Official Homepage of the United States Army. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. This article begins by addressing the stereotypes of Wiccans and how they are completely false. Members of the Victory Base Open Circle practice this religion and hope to get rid of all misconceptions about their religion. Members are led by Staff Sgt. Frederick Twombly, who explains how Pagan religions, including Wicca, are not at all satanic. Wiccan is a religion in which followers have the freedom to choose their own path and their own beliefs, similar to Christianity. Twombly says that Victory Base Open Circle is accepting of all religions and its main purpose is to teach beliefs, not pressure anyone into conversion. He explains how the group only desires respect for their beliefs. I found this article to be very credible because it came from the news archive from the Official Homepage of the United States Army. I thought this article would be very useful because it provides an example of how stereotypes of Wiccans can cause serious problems, such as prejudice. There are roughly 4,000 Pagans in the army, and because their religion is widely misunderstood, it causes prejudice, discrimination, and disrespect for followers of this path. Shufelt, Catherine A. ""Something Wicked Comes This Way": Constructing the Witch in Contemporary American Popular Culture." (2007): 1-149. Print. 25 Mar. 2013. This article focuses on the question, What is a Witch? Mainstream media has created a false image of witches. Movies and other forms of popular culture have depicted witches as evil,

old women, worshipping Satan and casting harmful spells on others. Catherine Shufelt aims to dispel these negative stereotypes about the otherwise peaceful, harmonious religion that is Wicca. She focuses on the social/cultural/environmental work being undertaken by Pagan and Wiccan groups. I thought this article would be a perfect resource for my paper, because Shufelt targets the very exact topic I am researching: the historical process of the construction of stereotypes surrounding witches. Shufelt discusses the development of modern-day Paganism and the medias image of these contemporary witches, presented through use of film, television, and literature. When researching the author of this article, Catherine Shufelt, I learned that she has a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University in American Culture Studies/Sociology, so I found her work to be credible. I found the article itself by using the library database, so UNCC also finds it credible. The article was also reviewed by Shufelts advisor, Angela Nelson. Wicca. National Geographic Travel. Hulu. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. This video talks specifically about Wiccan religion and its beliefs. Wiccans worship the gods and goddesses of nature, and in return for their worship, they are granted magical powers. The video focuses on one Wiccan, Gailles, part of the coven called The Raven and the Rose, studying to become a full-fledged witch. This woman expresses her desire for the word witch to receive positive connotations in todays world. She wants people to understand the real beliefs of witches. She says because of stereotypes and misconceptions, she has to be cautious about who she tells about her religion. She says Wiccans still receive a lot of prejudice because of their beliefs. Witches believe that if they gather in a circle, they can weave stronger magic. Therefore, most witches form covens that meet once a month. This video shows this particular coven preparing for Beltane, a secret celebration of the beginning of summer. During the ritual, the witches will thank the gods for the earths renewed fertility. At the end of the video, the coven participates in a public parade, displaying their beliefs. This outward display of their religion shows that prejudice is beginning to lessen towards witches and their beliefs. This video was shown on National Geographic Travel, a widely known television channel. National Geographic is used to educate and inform through use of daily news, magazines, events, games, blogs, and movies. They also make books, maps, globes, newsletters, and DVDs.