Lights, Camera, Witchcraft: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television

This book examines how witches have been portrayed in American film and television across decades, from silent films to contemporary blockbusters. Heather Greene traces the evolution of the witch archetype—from deviant practitioner of dark arts to goddess worshipper to crystal-wielding bookworm—and argues that Hollywood has been uniquely influential in shaping public perception of witches. Greene analyzes over two hundred examples spanning from Joan the Woman and The Wizard of Oz through Carrie and Charmed. She explores how these films and television shows have influenced the public image of the witch and affected how women navigate power within patriarchal society. The book draws on entertainment history, critical theory, gender studies, and spirituality to examine these cultural representations across each decade.