Reinventing The Witch: Witchcraft and Sorcery in 21st Century Fiction and Film
CALL FOR BOOK CHAPTERS
Reinventing The Witch: Witchcraft and Sorcery in 21st Century Fiction and Film
“Under Strong Interest” by McFarland’s "Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy" Series
-UPDATE on the CHAPTERS-
Editors’ Introduction
Reinventing the Witch: Witchcraft and Sorcery in 21st Century Fiction and Film offers a comprehensive examination of the resurgence and reimagining of witchcraft in contemporary storytelling. Over the last two decades, witchcraft has transformed from a historical curiosity into a potent symbol in modern narratives, reflecting evolving societal norms, fears, and aspirations.
The resurgence of witchcraft in popular culture can be attributed to its rich symbolic history and adaptability to contemporary themes. Historically, witches have represented the marginalized and the misunderstood, often embodying societal anxieties and gendered fears (Purkiss, 2000). Today, their portrayal in fiction and film has evolved, addressing themes such as empowerment, identity, and resistance. This collection of essays delves into how 21st-century narratives use witchcraft to comment on and challenge contemporary issues.
One of the most significant aspects of modern witchcraft stories is their intersection with feminist discourse. Writers like Alice Hoffman and J.K. Rowling have utilized witchcraft to explore themes of female empowerment and resistance against patriarchal oppression. Hoffman’s Practical Magic series, for instance, intertwines witchcraft with themes of sisterhood and resilience, creating a narrative of healing and empowerment (Hoffman, 1995). Rowling’s Harry Potter series redefines the magical world, positioning witches as central figures in a universe where knowledge and courage transcend traditional gender roles (Rowling, 1997-2007).
In the film, the representation of witchcraft has taken on darker and more introspective tones. Robert Eggers’ The Witch (2015) is a stark portrayal of isolation and paranoia in 17th-century New England, where witchcraft serves as a manifestation of repressed fears and societal tensions (Eggers, 2015). Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria (2018) offers a modern reimagining of the classic horror tale, exploring themes of power and transformation within the context of a dance academy steeped in occult practices (Guadagnino, 2018).
This collection examines these and other fictional works to understand why witchcraft has captivated the modern imagination. Our contributors explore a range of topics, from historical reimaginings to contemporary social commentaries. The diversity of perspectives presented underscores the complexity and versatility of witchcraft as a cultural and narrative device.
Evelyn Stewart's essay, “Witches, Wives, and Wombs: Women and the History of Witchcraft,” traces the transformation of historical witch figures into symbols of empowerment in modern narratives, linking past persecution with present-day feminist themes (Stewart, 2024). Jonathan Mills’ “Cinematic Sorcery: Witchcraft in 21st Century Film” analyses how visual storytelling enhances the mystical and often unsettling portrayal of witchcraft on screen (Mills, 2024).
As editors, we are delighted to present this volume at a time when interest in witchcraft is at an all-time high. We hope this collection not only entertains but also sparks thoughtful discussions about the role of witchcraft in contemporary culture. Through the lenses of gender, power, identity, and fear, the modern witch continues to enchant and challenge audiences, making witchcraft a rich subject for scholarly inquiry and creative exploration.
The chapters will be written in an argumentative rather than a descriptive style, so each chapter will come up with unique results/findings. The purpose of this book is not to describe witchcraft in 21st century fiction and films, but rather to discuss these new diverse narratives from a wide spectrum of theoretical arguments. The edited volume is planned to be published within the "Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy" series of McFarland books. McFarland, an international and influential publishing company, that has a strong reputation and influence in this field for many years.
Each chapter will consist of comprehensive essays of at least 5,000 - 6,000 words, including footnotes and references. The chapters will be written in MLA 9 format.
Please select one of the proposed chapters below and send an abstract of at least 250 words (with five references that will guide the chapter) and a short author biography (150 words) to the following email address:
The editors have framed the chapters as follows:
Preface
Editors’ Introduction
Nazan Yıldız Çiçekçi & Cenk Tan
Part I: Witchcraft and Sorcery in 21st Century Fiction (Tentative Name)
1) The Heretic’s Daughter (2009, Kathleen Kent) (Accepted)
2) Wakenhyrst (2019, Michelle Paver) (Available)
3) Circe (2019, Madeline Miller) (Accepted)
4) The Lighthouse Witches (2021, C. J. Cooke) (Available)
5) The Witching Tide (2023, Margaret Meyer) (Accepted)
6) Now She is Witch (2023, Kirsty Logan) (Available)
7) Dazzling (2023, Chikọdịlị Emelụmadụ) (Available)
Part II: Witchcraft and Sorcery in 21st Century Film (Tentative Name)
8) The Lords of Salem (2012, Dir. Rob Zombie) (Available)
9) Seventh Son (2014, Dir. Sergei Bodrov) (Available)
10) The Witch (2015, Dir. Robert Eggers) (Accepted)
11) The Love Witch (2016, Dir. Anna Biller) (Accepted)
12) Suspiria (2018,Dir. Luca Guadagnino) (Accepted)
13) Spell (2020, Dir. Mark Tonderai) & The Witches (2020, Dir. Robert Zemeckis) (Accepted)
14) You Won’t Be Alone (2022, Dir. Goran Stolevski) (Accepted)
Key Dates:
Deadline for abstract submission: December 31, 2024
Deadline for chapter submission: May 1, 2025
Anticipated publication date: Late 2025
*At least one contributor for each chapter is required to hold a PhD.
(PhD candidates are welcome to submit.)
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
Correspondence: reinventingthewitch@gmail.com
Editors.
Nazan Yıldız Çiçekçi and Cenk Tan
References:
Aguirre-Sacasa, R. (2018-2020). Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Netflix.
Eggers, R. (2015). The Witch. A24.
Guadagnino, L. (2018). Suspiria. Amazon Studios.
Hoffman, A. (1995). Practical Magic. Berkley.
Purkiss, D. (2000). The Witch in History: Early Modern and Twentieth-Century Representations. Routledge.
Rowling, J.K. (1997-2007). Harry Potter series. Bloomsbury.
Stewart, E. (2024). Witches, Wives, and Wombs: Women and the History of Witchcraft. In Witchcraft in 21st Century Fiction and Film.
Mills, J. (2024). Cinematic Sorcery: Witchcraft in 21st Century Film. In Witchcraft in 21st Century Fiction and Film.