Day 23: What are your thoughts towards media’s portray of witchcraft? (ie: Harry Potter.)

I have two differing views, depending on whether media means creative media (movies, books, music, and so on) versus journalism.

I am pretty forgiving when it comes to the creative media's portrayal of witchcraft.  I definitely get annoyed (yes, I'm looking at you, Supernatural), but I don't get deeply offended the way I do about sexism, racism, anti-Semiticism, and other awful -isms.  From a storyteller's perspective, I get that it's more exciting to show people flying on broomsticks rather than showing a girl-next-door type like me lighting a candle or praying over my morning coffee.  I think it would be great if a TV show or movie with good research team included a plain Jane (or plain John) character like me who just happens to be a witch, but I won't hold my breath.

I like The Wizard of Oz (the movie) with all of my being, and I appreciate it as a fantasy and a product of its time.  I'm annoyed that all the magical female Disney characters are either evil or mumbling mama-types.  I like the portrayal of magic in the Buffy and Angel universes, especially as shown by Willow and Tara in certain seasons; there was some nonsense, obviously, but overall it wasn't too terrible.  I liked Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a kid even though I knew that wasn't really what being a witch was like.  I've never seen The Craft, which is something of a minor miracle as a kid coming into the witchy scene in the mid-to-late nineties.  I know there are issues, but I still really, really enjoy Practical Magic.

I enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, and once the kids matured into better actors, I liked the movies as well.  I liked the almost totally secular vision, and I connected a lot with the frizzy-haired, bookish, know-it-all, activist-wannabe Hermione character.  I thought the book The Hobbit was okay.  I love Gandalf, but the songs and the lack of female characters peeved me.  I did not enjoy the movie very much, though there were some fun parts (the bunny sled and the "I'm going on an adventure!" line.)  I haven't read any Lord of the Rings books, and I fall asleep every time I try to watch the first movie.

When it comes to the news media, no news is good news.  I have yet to see or read a thoughtful, responsible piece of journalism in local mainstream media about witchcraft.  It's usually some nonsense about Satanic cults kidnapping cats at Halloween that gets conflated with all pagans and witches.  (If you know of a good bit of coverage, please send it to me or leave a comment with a link.  It would warm the cockles of my witchy heart.)