Saturday, December 9, 2017

Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Kristen J. Solee on the Demon Feminine in Film




We recently had the pleasure of attending the lecture "Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Exploring the Demon Feminine in Film" in the intimate black painted theater of the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies. The presenter was none other than Brooklyn based Kristen Sollee. Sollee is a New School faculty member and the founding editrix of the badass online magazine Slutist where the paths of politics, feminism, pop culture and the occult converge to the delight of our witchy hearts! The lecture was a peek into her new book "Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive" published by Three L Media.


By examining the stories of witches in TV and film, Sollee reveals the unconscious fears and evolving attitudes toward witches and powerful women in our Western world. An impressive selection of films were discussed including several that have already made it into our very own Wytch Files. Among them were The Craft, The Witch, The Love Witch, and Season of the Witch. We couldn't agree more with Sollee, there has always been a link between the witch and rebellious feminine power. The witch has been villain, victim, hero, rebel and temptress. The growing positive trends in portraying witches on screen continue as more women and witches take control of the narrative by making their own media.

Disney's Maleficent was powerfully used to illustrate how a well known tale morphs in the hands of a female writer and director team. We are eager to see what magic is made by those who have the "Will to Film" as these stories undoubtedly have an impact on the next generation of occultists and pagans. In over a dozen films, Sollee points to the cult classics that were a gateway into real witchcraft for herself and so many others (us included) - even if the portrayals were problematic. Today, witches have become an archetype of activism and strength in forth wave feminism. What stories will the witches tell, and how will it shape our world? For the in-depth exploration of the witch archetype, pick up "Witches, Sluts, Feminists" today.


More about Kristen Sollee  can be found on her website, and follow her on Twitter @ShadowtimeNYC and Intagram @KristenKorvette. Look for her classes at The New School.

Special thanks to witch, writer, curator and teacher Pam Grossman for interviewing Kristen on her new podcast, The Witch Wave (episode 2) where we learned of this empowering presentation. Don't miss her work! She is the co-founder of  Occult Humanities Conference at NYU.

We've enjoyed the events in Pam's art blog Phantasmaphile for years, and reviewed her lushly illustrated book "What is a Witch" in episode 20. You can also text up a hex with her irresistible Witch Emojis! Follow her on Twitter @Phantasmaphile

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