Witches, Women & Media: Evolving Perceptions with Salem Witch Museum

In the modern-day, the term “witch” evokes many different definitions and images. Despite its dark historical origins, when confronted with this figure today, most envision a cartoonish green-skinned woman flying astride a broomstick or a beautiful, supernatural, pop-culture heroine. Others still, such as those who practice Neopagan religions, think of this term as a sacred identity and view this word as a spiritual designation. In this program, participants will hear about the complex and fascinating evolution of the image of the witch, tracing this figure from the early modern period witch trials to the modern-day.