Witchcraft and Adolescence in American Popular Culture: Teen Witches

The book explores how the adolescent witch has evolved over the course of more than seventy years, reflecting shifting societal attitudes towards the teenage demographic and serving as a means through which adolescent femininity can be conceptualized, interrogated, and reimagined.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2022
Publisher: University of Wales Press

Since the Second World War, the teenage witch has become a prominent cultural phenomenon in the United States. These supernatural beings have made their presence felt in various forms of media, including movies, books, comics, and television shows. Adolescent witches have played a significant role in reflecting changing societal attitudes towards teenagers. At the same time, they have also provided a platform for exploring and reimagining adolescent femininity.

This book delves into the evolution of the adolescent witch over the past seventy years. It draws upon a diverse range of theoretical frameworks, including the works of Deleuze and Foucault, as well as recent new materialist philosophies. The book spans from the birth of the bobby soxer in the 1940s to the contemporary era of teenage engagements with fourth-wave feminism. It explores a wide array of themes, including embodiment, agency, identity, violence, and sexuality.

Throughout the book, the authors examine how the portrayal of adolescent witches has shifted over time. They explore how these characters have been used to perpetuate stereotypes and norms, as well as challenge and subvert them. The authors also examine how adolescent witches have been represented as both powerful and vulnerable, and how they navigate the complexities of adolescence and adulthood.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the concept of embodiment. The authors argue that adolescent witches are often portrayed as physically and sexually mature, but also as vulnerable and uncertain. They explore how these characters struggle with their identities and bodies, and how they negotiate the pressures of societal expectations and gender norms.

Another theme explored in the book is agency. The authors argue that adolescent witches are often portrayed as having agency and power, despite the challenges and limitations they face. They explore how these characters use their supernatural abilities to shape their own destinies and challenge the dominant narratives of power and control.

The book also examines the role of adolescent witches in shaping cultural attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and violence. The authors argue that these characters have been used to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and norms, as well as challenge and subvert them. They explore how adolescent witches have been represented as both victims and perpetrators of violence, and how they navigate the complexities of consent and agency in their relationships.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the adolescent witch as a cultural phenomenon. It offers a rich theoretical framework for understanding the evolution of these characters over time, and their role in shaping societal attitudes towards adolescence and femininity. The book will be of interest to scholars and researchers in the fields of cultural studies, gender studies, and media studies.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786838926