Call for Papers:  

The Interdisciplinary Witch Conference: Witches in Culture, History, and Society 

Friday 20th June 2025 

York St. John University 

Submission Deadline: 1st April 2025 

Send submissions to: Clare Hughes(clare.hughes@yorksj.ac.ukand Kiran Tannak.tanna@yorksj.ac.uk)  

Witches have occupied the academic imagination across disciplines and have in recent years become a rebellious feminist trope. From medieval trials to modern feminist reclamations, from folklore to popular media, witches embody resistance, transformation, and power.Whilst there is lively debate about the meaning and extent of the European and American witch trials and a burgeoning cultural milieu in which the trope of the witch is explored, there is also a growing interest in the practice of witchcraft as an individualised spirituality. This interdisciplinary conference seeks to explore the figure of the witch in all its historical, literary, sociocultural, political, and spiritual dimensions. 

We invite scholars, researchers, artists, and practitioners from diverse disciplines—including history, anthropology, religious studies, literature, gender studies, media studies, philosophy, art history, and more—to contribute to a vibrant discussion of the witch and witchcraft. 

Possible topics include, but are not limited to: 

• Historical Perspectives on Witchcraft: Witch trials, persecution, legal frameworks, and historical figures accused of witchcraft. 

• The Witch in Literature and Folklore: Depictions in mythology, fairy tales, novels, and poetry. 

• Practices and Beliefs: Rituals, spells, divination, and magical traditions across cultures, and spirituality that revolves around an identification with ‘witch’, (for example, Wicca, paganism, neo-paganism, and contemporary witchcraft communities). 

• Gender, Power, and Witchcraft: Feminist interpretations, queering the witch, and the witch as a symbol of resistance. 

• Witches in Popular Culture: Film, television, music, theatre, gaming, and digital media representations. 

• The Politics of Witchcraft: Accusations in contemporary society, moral panics, and the resurgence of anti-witchcraft sentiment. 

• Aesthetic and Artistic Depictions: Visual arts, performance, and witchcraft as creative inspiration. 

• Science, Medicine, and Witchcraft: Herbalism, alchemy, alternative medicine, and the intersection between science and superstition. 

We welcome proposals for traditional academic papers (20 minutes maximum), roundtable discussions (1 hour), creative performances (up to 30 minutes), artwork, and multimedia presentations. Submissions should engage critically with the themes of the conference while encouraging cross-disciplinary dialogue. 

Submission Guidelines: 

• Abstracts should be 250-300 words and include the paper title, author's name, affiliation (if applicable), and email address. 

• Please indicate if your submission is for a paper, panel discussion, performance, or alternative format presentation. 

• A short biographical statement (100 words max) should accompany the submission. 

• Send proposals to: Clare and Kiran clare.hughes@yorksj.ac.uk and k.tanna@yorksj.ac.uk by Tuesday1st April 2025. 

Notifications of acceptance will be sent as soon as possible after the deadline. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a special conference proceedings issue or edited volume. 

We look forward to conjuring an inspiring and thought-provoking exchange on the rich and complex legacy of witches in human history and imagination.