Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta is a renowned salsa band hailing from Puerto Rico. Led by the talented musician Jesus Pagan, the band has created a name for itself in the music industry with their infectious rhythms and energetic performances. With a career spanning several decades, Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta has delighted audiences all over the world with their unique blend of salsa, jazz, and Latin rhythms. Their music effortlessly fuses together traditional salsa elements with modern influences, resulting in a fresh and vibrant sound. The band's lineup consists of some of the most accomplished musicians in the industry. Each member brings their own unique style and expertise to the table, resulting in a cohesive and dynamic musical experience.
Eggers gives us this motif of Thomasin alone, stressing her singularity in the family. In the last image above of Thomasin alone facing the forest, we already get her yearning for an escape from her oppressed way of being, seeing in the forest her desire to be “free.” In these next three images, we see how Eggers also codes Thomasin as both self-aware of her oppressed existence and indomitable. In these three images we see yet another facet of Thomasin, her simple desire to have the unconditional love and acceptance of her parents. Instead, because of putting God and their Puritan/Christian belief system before their kids, they too easily come to see Thomasin as Other, yet another deep commentary in the film of the toxic nature of at least the potential for Christianity to be a (self) destructive belief system.
I ll get at the former the value of making the witch real below, but in terms of the later, I still think Eggers makes a compelling crucible scenario despite making the witch real. This is the reading in the film that is getting the most oxygen and with good reason, since it is the most palpable thread in the film and the cleanest one.
Each member brings their own unique style and expertise to the table, resulting in a cohesive and dynamic musical experience. Jesus Pagan's charismatic stage presence and powerful vocals further elevate the band's performances, captivating audiences with every note. Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta has released several successful albums throughout their career, each showcasing the band's versatility and musical prowess.
What’s the Point? An Examination of the Witch Costume
When late October arrives and the air is sweet and thin with falling leaves and winter squash, I am thinking about Samhain. At this time of year, I honor my ancestors. It is a sacred Sabbat, a holiday for deep reflection and a time of quiet. In the evening of October 31st, I light candles and place photographs of my ancestors on my altar. I meditate and hold vigil, waiting for signs from those who have passed beyond the veil. Samhain is the Celtic Pagan new year, which honors the division between light and darkness. As we enter late fall and winter, the cycle moves to the dark phase of the year—the time for rest and reflection.
Meanwhile, most people (myself included) are dressing up to celebrate a different holiday. Cultural sensitivity to the commodification of many religions and cultures has been growing, but the practice of witchcraft and Pagan or Wiccan religions are often forgotten.
Witch costumes are classic in mainstream western culture. They share the ranks with ghosts, goblins, fairies, and vampires. All of these tropes appear to be fun, sweet, and silly. And obviously, they are all characters in storybooks and aren’t real. Right?
But I am a witch. And I am not alone.
It wasn’t until the last five years or so that I began to understand the problem of the witch costume. For a long time I loved the image, and supported those dressing up as witches. I watched disparaging movies about witches such as Hocus Pocus, and The Craft because I was happy to see something like myself represented in the media. It made me feel accepted. These wicked, sultry, and ridiculous depictions of witches are hugely problematic: they perpetuate and normalize a lie about a religion and a culture. They reduce Paganism and witchcraft to a stereotype whose creation was intended to annihilate a group of people that frightened the majority.
The Craft film, 1996
As a female Pagan witch I felt as though these films were feminist. I misunderstood the four lead witch characters in The Craft as powerful females exercising their own agency in an unfair world. In reality, all four characters were distinctly anti-feminist and anti-witch. All four became power hungry (literally casting spells to become more powerful) and dangerous (murdering and injuring several people), as they pursued witchcraft. All of the women were focused on superficial or personal gains (becoming more beautiful, seeking revenge, desire for a male). As they became more powerful, they began to fight amongst each other—maintaining the untruth that women seek power, squander it, and self-destruct.
There is a solid and commonly accepted witch stereotype. It is so familiar, that it might not be necessary to recap. For clarity, I will mention the key points. Witches are normally ugly hooked-nose females wearing a black dress and robes (stripes are often present), with a conical black hat, a broom, and a cauldron. Witches do horrible things to other people, worship the devil, possess unsuspecting victims and eat children. In reality, witches don’t possess other people (or eat them!). We generally don’t wear pointy hats, I have never met a witch that has flown on a broom, and we don’t believe in Satan. There are many male and transgender witches.
When I meet with my coven, we share news. We talk about things that we are struggling with and bounce solutions off one another. We usually do a ritual together that may or may not include spellwork. Sometimes we simply honor the full moon. Sometimes we celebrate a specific goddess or god. Sometimes we make charms for sick pets or protection. And then we say goodnight and go home. A witch’s everyday religious practices are widely diverse (much like Christians or Muslims). For example, I do not have a static altar; I create altars every day and take them apart. They are usually very simple and involve no more than a candle and a special object. Others might spend hours meditating at their elaborate and beautiful altar each morning and night. I pray every day, but my prayers don’t involve kneeling, and I don’t have specific prayers that I recite—but some pagans might. I am a witch and I have a deep, nurturing, spiritual, and powerful connection to the Earth and all her energy. My religion helps guide me every day, and I take comfort in it and satisfaction in my craft as I learn more and more with time.
There aren’t many Pagans around. As a small group (0.4% of the world’s population identifies as Pagan vs Christians at 23%), there are are less voices to speak against stereotypes and negative portrayals in pop culture. We are often villainized, ridiculed, or romanticized. In the media, witches are either the epitome of good, evil, or simply silly. Rarely are we taken seriously or treated with respect.
The Wizard of Oz film, 1939
One of the most iconic witches in the modern world is Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of The Wicked Witch of the West. The imagery that W. W. Denslow (the original artist who illustrated The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), and Adrian Adolph Greenberg’s costume design from the seminal 1939 film are not the inventors of the pointy hat and black robes. Christian leaders may have used this visual representation of witches while murdering more than eighty thousand women and men in the 1500 and 1600s. In fact, there is a theory that the witch hat was inspired by the hat that Jews were forced to wear during this time. Jews were severely persecuted and were commonly associated with the devil—so the witch hat is antisemitic and anti-witch.
To continue the connection with antisemitism, the depiction of the hooked nose commonly associated with witches is actually another example of medieval bigotry. Jewish people were often illustrated as having a hooked nose, and when paired with the conical hat, the similarity between the traditional witch costume and this antisemitic representation is striking. It is likely that the witch costume of today is a leftover and shifted antisemitic representation from the middle ages.
12th Century German Jews with hats. From Herrad von Landsperg, Hortus deliciarum.
1341 Jews and King Henry VII. From Codex Trevirensi
During the 1400-1600s, Jewish peoples endured similar persecution to that of thousands of European people—mostly women—who were placed on trial and executed for witchcraft. Were these people witches? Likely not, but murdering these people frightened and scattered witches and forced many into hiding. Thus, the idea of the “bad witch” becomes larger than the witch themselves. What does this mean? The innocent and classic costume of a witch is actually a weapon used against a minority group of people to systemically annihilate their religion and culture.
If we look back through history, we see witches depicted as antagonists in both literature and in history. In Germany a book called Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of Witches) was published by a Catholic clergyman in 1487. This book was intended to give reasons and directions for exterminating witches. Malleus Maleficarum sold widely for several hundred years and is largely responsible for the most recognizable witch murder: burning at the stake.
In 1692 in America, Salem Witch Trials took place and two hundred accusations led to twenty deaths of innocent people, both men and women. To this day, scholars still cannot agree on a completely satisfactory reason for the derangement and cruelty that the people of coastal Massachusetts engaged in, but the result remains the same: negative imagery and fear surrounding witchcraft.
It is about this time—the 1700s—that the witch as we know her was solidified. The black hat (pointy like devil horns) was used as a sign of wickedness. The Brothers Grimm published their first collection in 1812 filling it with female antagonist witches. For example, Hansel and Gretel’s witch eats children; Snow White’s witch is power hungry, attempting to murder Snow White and eat her heart; and Rapunzel’s sorceress deprives her of all human contact and blinds her true love. In 1844 Hans Christian Anderson gave us The Snow Queen witch character and the Sea Witch (“The Little Mermaid”), offering children and adults more reasons to be horrified.
Hansel and Gretel in The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm illustration by Arthur Rackham, 1909
In the Western world today, witch-hunts are things of the past. This is not true of all parts of the world. In Tanzania, hundreds of women are still being murdered for witchcraft. These women are blamed for sickness, death, crops failing, and famine. They are scapegoats for their community, and the killings are led by vigilantes. The phrase “witch-hunt” means just that: looking for someone to blame when nothing is there. Even this phrase, used to describe horrendous crimes against innocents, is anti-witch; it is essentially saying that witches do not exist.
Women and men both have been burned at the stake, drowned, tortured, and exiled for witchcraft (real and imagined), and unfortunately, it does still happen. Evil is a scary idea for us humans. It is an idea that can terrify and paralyze and transform regular people into a mob. Fear makes us monsters, and witches still, for many, incite this type of intense and irrational fear: nearly 1500 children were abused (even murdered) in the UK just last year because of misguided beliefs about witchcraft or possession.
Does that make you uncomfortable and defensive? I understand the reaction, and you have my support. But instead of putting up your fists and trying to punch me with your excuses about storybook characters, positive examples, and freedom of speech, I challenge you to examine your morals. What do you want to see in the world, and what kind of world do you want for yourself? For your children? What simple, every day things can you do to bring that dream into fruition?
The modern witch image is recognized by many children and adults. However, this representation was—and continues to be—a tool for murdering thousands of people. It is an antisemitic representation that has been shifted onto and shared with the now classic image of the witch, culminating into a hugely bigoted cliché. It is an image that brings certain witches anger and fear—anger for being reduced to a stereotype, and anger at the attempted extermination of their culture and religion by such simplification; fear of being mistreated or possibly harmed because of the misrepresentation this stereotype has created. Let’s ditch the witch costume and all that it stands for: hatred, scapegoating, murder, and bigotry.
If you are interested in the topic:
Their music is characterized by catchy melodies, infectious rhythms, and heartfelt lyrics, often touching on themes of love, hope, and social issues. Their live performances are nothing short of spectacular, with the band delivering high-energy shows that leave audiences wanting more. Whether performing in small intimate venues or large concert halls, Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta knows how to create an electrifying atmosphere that keeps fans coming back for more. In addition to their musical success, Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta has also been actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. The band has used their platform to raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes, demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact on society. Jesus Pagan y su Orquesta continues to be a driving force in the salsa music scene, with their music transcending cultural boundaries and resonating with listeners of all backgrounds. Through their vibrant performances and heartfelt music, they have solidified their place as one of the most respected and beloved salsa bands in the industry..
Reviews for "Jesus Pagna's Orchestra: A Testament to the Power of Music"
1. Maria - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with Jesus Pagna y su orquesta. I had heard so many great things about them, but their performance fell flat for me. The music was not engaging, and the vocals were off-key at times. The band lacked energy and enthusiasm, and it felt like they were just going through the motions. Overall, I was not impressed and would not recommend seeing them live.
2. John - 1 star - I attended a concert by Jesus Pagna y su orquesta recently, and it was a complete waste of time and money. The band seemed disorganized, with instruments out of tune and members not playing together. The lead singer had a weak stage presence and struggled to hit the high notes. The overall performance lacked passion and was extremely underwhelming. I left the concert feeling disappointed and regretting my decision to attend.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for Jesus Pagna y su orquesta, but they failed to meet my expectations. The music was repetitive, and each song sounded the same. The band lacked originality and creativity, making their performance monotonous and boring. The lead singer's voice was also not as impressive as I had anticipated. I was looking for something unique and exciting, but unfortunately, Jesus Pagna y su orquesta did not deliver.
4. Michael - 3 stars - Jesus Pagna y su orquesta was just okay for me. The band had some talented musicians, but overall, their performance lacked cohesiveness. They seemed to be unsure of themselves and had trouble staying in sync. The lead singer had a decent voice, but there was nothing particularly memorable about their music. While I didn't dislike the concert, I also wouldn't go out of my way to see them again.
5. Rebecca - 2 stars - I found Jesus Pagna y su orquesta to be quite underwhelming. The band lacked chemistry on stage, and it felt like they were not enjoying themselves. The music lacked depth and complexity, making their performance forgettable. The lead singer's vocals were mediocre, and at times, it seemed like he was struggling to hit the right notes. Overall, I was disappointed with their concert and left feeling unimpressed.