I have a strong admiration for the study of witchcraft as a hobby.

 

In year 12 for my society and culture course, my personal interest project was surrounding the topic of witchcraft combined with the study of media and further enhanced with a cross cultural component of gender. I hypothesised that 'The fantasy-oriented versions of witchcraft are an element of continuity in popular culture driven by negative media representations.' I conducted three methodologies - a questionnaire, content analysis and an interview to further support my argument. Here is an extract from chapter 1 of my Personal Interest Project:

 

"'The fantasy-oriented versions of witchcraft are an element of continuity in popular culture driven by negative media representations.' Generation after generation, the institution of media have changed and adapted the contemporary notions of modern society, to uphold styles and trends and now to engage a twenty-first century audience. However, the prejudicial mentifacts throughout history lacks in the understanding and knowledge of different identities and social groups thus establishes continuity for Stereotypes which are often negatively perceived in the media, with a differing approach as time evolves.
 The media has consistently undermined the identity of witches and witchcraft in popular culture, directed more than usually by Hollywood's film and television industry's preconceived concepts and continuous fantasy-oriented representations of wiccans, whether characterised as hypersexual, the antagonist or an undervalued woman in 'mortal' society."