Witch trials, also known as witch-hunts, were a dark chapter in human history that took place primarily between the 15th and 18th centuries. These trials were a result of widespread belief in witchcraft, which was seen as a threat to society and religion. During witch trials, individuals, mainly women, were accused of practicing witchcraft and making pacts with the devil. They were often subjected to torture and interrogations in order to elicit confessions. The trials were heavily influenced by superstition, fear, and religious dogma, with many believing that witches had the power to harm crops, livestock, and bring about illness and misfortune. The Salem witch trials in 1692 are perhaps the most well-known example of witch trials, with several people being accused and executed for allegedly practicing witchcraft.
The Salem witch trials testify to the importance of due process in protecting individuals against false accusations. With the Bill of Rights in place, interpretations of the First Amendment consistently ruled that slander and defamation were not protected by the Constitution. This image is a fanciful representation of the Salem witch trials. ("The witch no. 1," Joseph E. Baker, 1892, image via the Library of Congress)
Some of those who insisted in 1787 that a Bill of Rights was necessary for the ratification of the Constitution undoubtedly knew about the treatment of the Salem witches and how they had been deprived of the rights to which they should have been entitled under English common law. Phelps-Roper is known for being brought up in, and then leaving, the virulently homophobic Westboro Baptist church, her fundamentalist views changed by Twitter I know.
The Salem witch trials in 1692 are perhaps the most well-known example of witch trials, with several people being accused and executed for allegedly practicing witchcraft. These trials were marked by mass hysteria and paranoia, fueled by religious fervor and social tension. While the exact number of witch trials and executions is unknown, it is estimated that thousands of innocent people, mostly women, lost their lives during this period.
The week in audio: The Witch Trials of JK Rowling; Dear Daughter; Sisters – review
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling is a strange podcast. Rowling’s careful, crisp mind contrasts with host Megan Phelps-Roper’s mushy Christian desire to be as kind and evenhanded as possible. That’s not to say that the podcast isn’t interesting – it is – just that it’s uneven and reeeally streeetched out. It needs a far tougher editor.
A bit of background. Phelps-Roper is known for being brought up in, and then leaving, the virulently homophobic Westboro Baptist church, her fundamentalist views changed by Twitter (I know!). Landing Rowling as an interviewee is a huge coup for Phelps-Roper, as Rowling is private, and we understand why when, in episode one, she recounts how her ex-husband tried to break into her home. We should also note that The Witch Trials comes from a production company started by Bari Weiss, a journalist who fell out with the New York Times over her provocative “anti-woke” stance on cancel culture. Because of this, and given the title, we assume that the podcast exists because Rowling has been disowned by many – some of her fans and others – for her views on women’s and trans people’s rights and how they can conflict. Perhaps we will get to this subject; however, it appears, only once Phelps-Roper has gone through every single US cultural permutation of the past 20 years.
The programme is in chronological order and follows Rowling’s professional history (her personal life is included to show how it shaped her work and how her work changed her life). The longueurs occur because we are also given the context in which her work was published. By work, of course, we mean Harry Potter, or Hairy Podder, as every American insists on calling it. There are a lot on this show. The second episode spends what seems like days on 1990s US Christian evangelists and their mad belief that the Harry Potter books truly promote witchcraft to children, that kids might “drink unicorn blood”. It’s hard to maintain interest throughout this lunacy.
Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Ken Bruce and Vernon Kay
The third episode, out last week, about the rise of internet message boards and their overspill into the mainstream, was much better. The two examined are Tumblr (essentially sweet and lefty) and 4chan (like a racist, Columbine-loving Andrew Tate). Tumblr gave many young people the space to define their own gender queer identities. And 4chan allowed its members to rail against societal norms in a different manner, paving the way for self-promoting feminist-baiters such as Milo Yiannopoulos.
This is Jon Ronson-style stuff, though Phelps-Roper is less sharp, journalistically. Really what The Witch Trials highlights is what happens to both artist and fans when a creation balloons into something unmanageable. Harry Potter – and via Harry, Rowling – became so popular that everyone, even those who with no stake in the game, decided on an opinion and all subtleties were lost. Rowling, as she says, may have hoped that the books’ message that humans are flawed, complicated, a mixture of good and bad, is what would resonate. But – and she sees this – that’s not what’s happened. Harry and Rowling became too famous for that. Now they’re seen as entirely good or utterly bad. There are four episodes to go.
Namulanta Kombo presents the award-winning Dear Daughter. BBC
A far cosier female-centred listen is Dear Daughter, winner of podcast of the year at last year’s British Podcast awards. The first episode of the second series came out last week as a podcast on BBC Sounds and will be a World Service programme starting on 11 March. Hosted by the positive, optimistic Namulanta Kombo, mother to a young boy and girl, it’s a sweet show that believes the relationship between mothers and daughters is special. Although last week, we heard from Marian, a journalist from Estonia, who had a distant relationship with her father and is very grateful for her husband’s much closer bond with their daughter. Both Marian and Kombo’s girls are still young: you wonder, a little, about teenage issues, also how the programme would differ if they had more than one daughter. This week, she will be interviewing writer Isabel Allende, not a woman to pull punches.
Here’s a show about more than one daughter: Sisters, from Kaitlin Prest, who is revered among podcast-lovers, especially North American women. Her podcast The Heart, a collection of different series, is beautifully made, intense and personal; she negotiates and understands the world via her own body and life. So it’s interesting that she is co-creating this beguiling, intriguing podcast with her younger sister, Natalie. Using recordings that Prest has made of her family over several years, the first three episodes cover Kaitlin and Natalie’s childhood, how Kaitlin was dismissive of Natalie, how Natalie thought her big sister was amazing and how they became close as adults. Now they are working together, and despite Natalie’s efforts to be her own person, everything still feels dominated by Kaitlin. Is there space for Natalie here? God, families are complicated…
Natalie and Kaitlin Prest, co-creators of the ‘beguiling’ Sisters.
Can we say the words Vernon Kay without the Radio 2 “family” falling apart? Now Ken Bruce has left (his last stint was on Friday), the mid-morning show will pass to Kay in a few weeks. He is a safe pair of hands, though perhaps a little blokey (despite its long love affair with the straight white male presenter, since Chris Evans left in 2018, Radio 2 has been almost entirely un-blokey). Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Bruce and Kay, to ensure that the world still keeps turning and the family still functions.
Namulanta Kombo presents the award-winning Dear Daughter. BBC
The accused were often marginalized individuals or those who did not conform to societal norms, such as herbalists, midwives, and the elderly. The witch trials were a tragic injustice, fueled by fear and ignorance. They serve as a dark reminder of humanity's capacity for cruelty and the danger of mob mentality. Today, they stand as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of critical thinking and the safeguarding of individual rights and justice..
Reviews for "The Psychopathology of Witch Trials: A Preview into Mass Hysteria"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really excited to attend the witch trial preview, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The acting felt forced and the dialogue was cheesy. The plot didn't have enough substance to keep me engaged throughout the entire performance. Overall, I found it underwhelming and not worth the ticket price.
2. Emily - 1 star
I had high expectations for the witch trial preview, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The set design was lackluster, and the costumes looked cheap. The actors seemed unprepared and their performances were forgettable. It lacked the intensity and suspense that a production like this should have. I wanted to enjoy it, but I couldn't find anything redeeming about it.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars
The witch trial preview had potential, but it failed to live up to it. The pacing was off, with scenes that dragged on and others that felt rushed. The lack of character development made it difficult to connect with the performers on stage. The plot lacked depth and complexity, which left me feeling unsatisfied. It was an average production at best, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 2 stars
I had heard great things about the witch trial preview, so I was excited to see it. However, I left feeling disappointed. The acting was subpar, with wooden performances that lacked emotion. The dialogue was cliché and the storyline was predictable. The production as a whole felt lackluster and failed to captivate my attention. I expected more from such a highly anticipated show.