Megan Thee Stallion, the American rapper known for her bold and fierce lyrics, has built a strong fan base with her music. Her words have the power to captivate audiences and inspire confidence, making her a force to be reckoned with in the industry. But with this power comes a double-edged sword. Megan's gift of using words to create art also serves as a curse. Her lyrics have faced criticism and controversy, as they often touch on themes of sexuality and empowerment, which some find provocative and explicit. While her intention is to empower and uplift, there are those who believe that her music perpetuates negative stereotypes.
Stepping back a bit, the question for us as parents is this: How do we help our families navigate this topic, given the fact that there’s so much content on the big screen and small that our kids might potentially be interested in (or have friends who are interested in it).
Each decade since then has featured a continually growing list of shows and movies that prominently feature witches and witchcraft as core parts of their plot and worldview. Regardless of where on the spectrum you fall and one could spend many years mining the internet for articles on both sides I couldn t help but think about it when I came across some news related to actress Emma Watson.
While her intention is to empower and uplift, there are those who believe that her music perpetuates negative stereotypes. However, it is important to recognize that Megan's music is a reflection of her reality and experiences. She uses her platform to speak her truth and shed light on topics that are often dismissed or silenced.
The Rise of Witchcraft & Popular Culture: Is There a Connection?
When the Harry Potter franchise exploded into the popular culture in 1997, Christians hotly debated the series’ cultural influence. Specifically, its potential connection to the occult—whether it glorified witchcraft in a way that might make people in the real world curious about it.
The story featured young wizards and witches gifted in magic and learning how to wield it against a dark spiritual enemy, Voldemort. Many Christians voiced the need for extreme caution about a story where witchcraft featured so prominently and positively, even if it was a high-stakes battle between good and evil. Others argued that the story (and subsequently, the movies) had little connection to a classical connection to the occult, and that there were valuable spiritual parallels and ideas to be mined here. Author J.K. Rowling herself later said that she had intended her story to be a Christian allegory.
Regardless of where on the spectrum you fall—and one could spend many years mining the internet for articles on both sides—I couldn’t help but think about it when I came across some news related to actress Emma Watson.
On April 15, 2023, Watson sang the praises of her coven in an Instagram post: “Thank you to the witches in my coven who were so pivotal in helping me arrive at where and who I am now. ❤️🧙♀️,🌻,🧜🏽♀️, 🥷, 🦌,👁, 🌸, 🦉,🏜,🥋and 🌹. You are my Avengers and you inspire me and kick a–. It takes a village, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” And that’s not the first time she’s given a public shout-out to witches, either. In 2022 at the BAFTA Awards, she said, “I’m here for all the witches,” a not-so-subtle jab at J.K. Rowling’s even more controversial conviction that biological women and trans women aren’t the same (a stance that has made her perhaps an unlikely hero among many who’d once criticized her).
I find Watson’s affinity for finding meaningful community among witches curious. Could growing up playing a witch have predisposed her toward, it seems from her statements, calling a coven her spiritual home? Apart from a conversation with her, there would be no way to know for sure. But I think it’s telling that perhaps the most famous witch of our recent pop culture past seems to embrace witchcraft IRL—in real life.
Indeed, that connection is one that deserves scrutiny. There’s no denying that we’ve seen an enormous surge in interest in Wicca in our culture—a trend that’s been well documented. How does pop culture influence a trend like our culture’s growing interest in Wicca?
Youth culture expert Walt Mueller, president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (a Christian ministry) teaches that popular culture is a mirror and a map. With regard to being a mirror, entertainment—such as movies, music, TV, social media, etc.—reflects our culture’s current moment. But it does more than that. It’s also a map, pointing us in certain directions, reinforcing certain cultural trends and worldviews.
I believe that’s certainly the case with this issue. Interest in the occult began to grow in the cultural turbulence of the 1960s. The June 19, 1972, issue of TIME Magazine featured a cover story titled “The Occult Revival.” Simultaneously during that era, we began to see popular television shows such as Bewitched and The Addams Family that dealt lightly and humorously with ideas about witchcraft, horror and the macabre.
Each decade since then has featured a continually growing list of shows and movies that prominently feature witches and witchcraft as core parts of their plot and worldview. It’s a long list of both. Parade.com recently updated its article “Conjure Up a Scary Good Halloween Season With the 26 Best Witch Movies Ever,” a list that included The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Hocus Pocus (1993) Practical Magic (1998), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Into the Woods (2014) and The Witch (2015), among others. On the small screen, the list of witchcraft-themed shows through the decades is similarly lengthy, including Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996), Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018), A Discovery of Witches (2018), Good Witch (2015), Salem (2014) and—again—many others.
Netflix even gives witchcraft its own genre category: “Witchcraft & the Dark Arts.”
So what are we to make of all this witchy programming?
As Walt Mueller wisely noted, Hollywood both reflects our culture and reinforces it—a feedback loop that seems to be accelerating. It’s impossible to say with absolute clarity exactly how one is influencing the other. Is Emma Watson enamored of her coven because she spent most of her life playing a witch? Making that connection doesn’t seem like a huge leap to me, even though it’s not one we could necessarily prove.
Stepping back a bit, the question for us as parents is this: How do we help our families navigate this topic, given the fact that there’s so much content on the big screen and small that our kids might potentially be interested in (or have friends who are interested in it).
Here are a few thoughts.
- Recognize the reality of influence when it comes to worldview: Our culture is deeply invested in the lie that our entertainment choices don’t affect us, that we’re in control of how entertainment influences us. But when we look at this particular issue, I think we can say that entertainment affects culture and culture affects entertainment. That link seems undeniable, and we ignore it at our peril. So when we choose to engage uncritically with a story whose worldview is at odds with our faith, the possibility that it may influence us or our children to embrace ideas contrary to our convictions is a real possibility.
- Know your kids: Some children are particularly suggestable, sensitive or otherwise prone to be influenced by the ideas they see in entertainment. But every child, even within the same family, is different. So we need to become students of our kids to have a clear sense of where and how we need to protect and guide them through the many landmines that lay buried in the sand in the world of entertainment. If we notice them withdrawing or see abrupt changes in habits, it’s important that we consider what role, if any, ideas or suggestions that they’ve been exposed to via entertainment may be influencing them.
- Teach your children to identify and recognize spiritual counterfeits. At its core, witchcraft and Wicca (which we define and explain the Focus on the Family Parenting articles here and here) embody seductive belief systems that promise control and place the individual at the center of reality. It’s an idolatrous counterfeit to Christ-focused faith that supplants His rightful place as the One whom we trust and worship. As we help our children grow spiritually, talking about these key biblical principles helps to give them a foundation of truth and spiritual discernment.
Our culture has largely jettisoned belief in a God who is good, loving and sovereign. It’s also largely turned its back on the notion that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and are in need of a Savior outside of ourselves. Wicca, especially, rejects these truths, elevating the worship of self in its place. Those ideas, to greater and lesser extent, can often be found in the popular movies and TV shows I’ve talked about above. It’s our job as parents to equip our kids with the ability to see these deceptive-but-seductive deceptions for what they are.
©2023 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.
Abby is an editorial assistant at Seventeen, covering pop culture, beauty, life, and health. When she's not busy watching the latest true crime docuseries, you can find her strolling through Sephora, thrifting the perfect dress, or jogging with her pup.
Her music serves as a form of liberation, allowing her to express herself in a world that often tries to suppress her voice. Megan's words have resonated with many, particularly women who feel empowered by her unapologetic approach. Her music serves as a reminder that women can embrace their sexuality and demand respect without conforming to societal expectations. It is undeniable that Megan Thee Stallion's music has made an impact on the industry. Her bold lyrics and unfiltered statements have garnered attention and allowed her to carve her own path. While her words may be seen as a curse by some, they are undoubtedly a gift to those who appreciate her authenticity and fearlessness..
Reviews for "The Cultural Significance of Megan Thee Stallion's Music"
1. Karen - 1/5 stars - I couldn't stand Megan thee Stallion's "Gift and a Curse" album. The lyrics were shallow and lacked creativity. It felt like she was trying too hard to sound empowering but ended up falling flat. The beats were also repetitive and didn't showcase any originality. Overall, I found this album to be disappointing and a waste of my time.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - I was expecting so much more from Megan thee Stallion's "Gift and a Curse" album. However, it failed to live up to my expectations. The songs lacked depth and substance, and most of them sounded too similar. The production quality was average and there was nothing that stood out to me in terms of creativity. I found myself getting bored halfway through and ended up skipping several songs. It's clear that this album was rushed and didn't meet the high standards set by Megan's previous work.
3. Emily - 3/5 stars - While Megan is known for her energetic and bold rap style, "Gift and a Curse" didn't quite hit the mark for me. The lyrics felt repetitive and lacked the wit and clever wordplay that I usually enjoy from her. The beats were catchy, but they couldn't make up for the lackluster lyrics. I found myself disappointed with this album as it didn't showcase Megan's full potential. I hope her next project will bring back the fire and creativity that I know she is capable of.
4. David - 2/5 stars - "Gift and a Curse" by Megan thee Stallion left me underwhelmed. The album lacked cohesiveness, and the songs felt disjointed. It seemed like Megan was trying to experiment with different sounds, but it didn't work in her favor. The lyrics were also forgettable and didn't engage me as a listener. Overall, I found this album to be a step back from Megan's previous work and hope she finds her footing again in her future releases.