Feminist Afterlives of the Witch: Popular Culture, Memory, Activism

The book explores the witch as a rhetorical symbol in feminist memory, politics, activism, and popular culture, examining how it has been deployed by activists and writers and its impact on cultural memories and representations. It utilizes hauntological theories of memory and temporality to consider how popular culture remembers, misremembers, and forgets usable pasts, and the uses (and misuses) of these memories for feminist politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The book delves into the enigmatic figure of the witch as a powerful rhetorical symbol in the realms of feminist memory, politics, activism, and popular culture throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It explores the intricate tapestry of paradoxical legacies that the witch carries, navigating a multitude of ideological memoryscapes. This comprehensive examination examines the strategic deployment of the witch by feminist activists and writers in their political endeavors during the twentieth century, profoundly shaping cultural memories of witches and witch trials. Furthermore, it unravels the interplay between popular culture representations of the witch and the broader societal context, shedding light on the complex relationship between activism, media, and cultural memory.

Drawing upon hauntological theories of memory and temporality, as well as literary, screen, and cultural studies methodologies, the book delves into the intricate ways in which popular culture remembers, misremembers, and forgets usable pasts. It scrutinizes the uses and misuses of these memories for feminist politics, highlighting the significance of understanding the multifaceted meanings inherent in the witch figure. Given the widespread presence of the witch in popular culture, politics, and activism since 2016, this book emerges as a timely exploration of the diverse range of meanings associated with this symbol. It serves as an essential study of how cultural symbols, like the witch, inherit paradoxical memories, histories, and politics.

This book holds immense value for scholars across various disciplines, including witchcraft studies, feminist philosophy and history, memory studies, and popular culture studies. Its comprehensive analysis and interdisciplinary approach provide a rich tapestry of insights into the enduring legacy of the witch and its profound impact on feminist discourse, cultural memory, and societal dynamics.

Weight: 493g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031252914
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023