I saw this thread and it really drew my interest. Forgive me, I'm fairly ignorant about witches/wicca, but for me, I guess, fantasy witches and real witches have always been kept in separate categories...like how we have zombie movies and mummy movies despite the fact that burial and mummification are real traditions for real human beings. I feel like a lot of real-life things (that ought to be respected) have been turned into "Halloween monsters," alongside fictional creatures like Frankenstein's monster and mermaids and such. But the modern day fantasy is so far removed from its origins/the real thing. I just never thought of it as an issue before, although I can also see where you're coming from.
I'm just incredibly curious about this now. Can someone explain the issue to me in more depth? I totally get the whole being treated as a human being thing, but how far does it go? Are Halloween decorations/kids dressed up as witches offensive? The Wizard of Oz? Hocus Pocus? Sabrina the Teenage Witch?
That is an excellent question!
And I'm quite sure there will be differing opinions.
Personally I'm amused by the stereotype and collect items that feature witches with big warts, green skin, and silly attributes. Witchcraft has been such a societal bugaboo for so long that true practitioners approach the stereotype and intolerant attitude of folks in different ways.
As society changes and becomes more tolerant and progressive, a lot of witches feel comfortable coming out of the broom closet. The stigma of the evil witch that eats babies and worships the devil is offensive and with positive representations of the craft, common folk see that it is a religion of peace and healing. Personally I have no issue with the movie. It is what it is.
Wizard of Oz had both the Wicked Witches of the East and West, and then Glinda the Good as a counterbalance.
Snow White and Sleeping Beauty had evil queens who were witches. The Brother's Grimm laced their tales with cultural norms of their time.
When you go to a film or read a book, you are doing so to escape reality with either fear, fantasy, humour or drama.
Witches are part of the cultural bugaboo of centuries past --
All things supernatural still send an electric tingle through the communal psyche in this modern age.
To conquer fear you dress it up and mock it.
To some practitioners the constant portrayal of the wiccan/pagan/alternate path as evil and bad is like a slap in the face.
Halloween is Samhain -- one of our high Sabbats. I have no issue with the decorations or costumes at all. In fact it adds to the communal spirit and enrgy of the holiday. If a tv show paints a witch in a negative light, just for shock value, then I might take issue. But being a bad person or bad character is the focus...the witch thing just adds to the ratings.
When you see something offensive, then you take a step back.
I made the comment earlier that if a film or book featured a crazed Judeo-Christian or Muslim or Hindu group running amok and being awful then there might be backlash from the majority of mainstream people who belong to those religions, defending their faith or their ideals. But...there are movies and shows that poke fun equally (Father Ted, Vicar of Dibley and American shows I'm sure).
The pagan path is still a minority despite the origins as the first faith. In some communities witches are feared and reviled. In some communities witches are accepted.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
And welcome to the Pagan area! Nice to meet you