Today, to celebrate the new moon and solar eclipse, we’re bringing you a very special minisode about Claire’s visit to the Salem Witch Museum. We also share some thoughts about modern witch hunts (in the forms of racism and xenophobia, especially) and how to foster greater understanding in the face of difference. We at Witches in Britches condemn white supremacy and bigotry in all forms and encourage you to take a stand against intolerance and hate wherever it is found in your communities.
Our theme song is “Moon and Spruce” by Sarah Littledrum.
*Relevant quote from source above: “Women have traditionally been associated with the senses in Western culture, and in particular, with the ‘lower’ senses. Women are the forbidden taste, the mysterious smell, the dangerous touch. Men, by contrast, have been associated with reason, as opposed to the senses, or else with sight and hearing as the most ‘rational’ of the senses” (Constance Classen, The Color of Angels: Cosmology, Gender, and the Aesthetic Imagination, 1-2).
Next month (Sep. 6) we’ll be discussing Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. See you then!
For our third episode, we are excited to bring you our discussion of the 2017 film Wonder Woman! There will definitely be spoilers. (There are also spoilers for Captain America: The First Avenger.)
Here’s a listening guide for the episode. (For a description of our segments, go here.)
NB: One thing we meant to talk about, but didn’t get to, was how much of a role Chris Pine/ Steve Trevor was given, considering he was the love interest/ sidekick. (See McDorman’s review, linked below, for more about how Trevor is centered in the story.*) We also forgot to talk about Robin Wright!!! Nooooo!
Our first episode is a discussion of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. We would like to dedicate it to Marcelle Kosman and Hannah McGregor of Witch, Please. Thanks for inspiring us!
Content warning: assault, rape, domestic violence
Note: As writers and creators, we know how difficult it is to produce good art. Our comments are not meant to belittle or censure. Rather, we believe in deconstructing and critiquing the things we love, and we hope that our attempt to engage critically with these texts can help our listeners generate productive discussions and insights about themselves and the social structures in which they operate. Please feel free to join the conversation on our Twitter page!
Here are some links and resources you might find useful:
We recorded this introduction to the podcast–and ourselves–as part of our first episode but ended up cutting it due to time constraints. If you’re interested in learning more about us, then give it a listen. (You can also visit our About page.)
And for your enjoyment, here is our theme song, “Moon and Spruce,” written and performed by the talented Sarah Littledrum, in its glorious entirety.
Witches in Britches 