Interdisciplinary Witches

Brought together by the Witch

We are a group of academic researchers from different disciplines - Art, History, Literature, Religion - brought together by a shared interest in the figure of the witch. For some of us, the research centres on the real women who express spirituality under the loose banner of witchcraft, for others, it is the study of the cultural trope of the witch that fascinates us.

Whilst our individual research projects are underway, we are developing a joint identity as a group and connecting with other groups of researchers and special interest groups through symposia and collaborative writing. For more information on the group and our activities, please visit our blog:

Interdisciplinary Witches blog

The trope of 'the witch' has long been a focus of study across disciplines.

Historical accounts, social transformation, feminist subversions, and fictional and creative reconsiderations give us different facets of the notion of the witch. Some notions are perceived as liberating and others reinforcing notions of witchcraft as ‘other’, dangerous, anti-Christian, and polluting.

In this research group, we consider the following questions:

• What connects these iterations of the witch trope?
• What underpins our fascination with the witch?
• How are witches reflected and transformed in the variety of ways in which they have been reimagined?
• How does the historical narrative of the witch craze feed into gender politics today?
• How are people developing spiritual and political independence through witchcraft?
• Does the witch have feminist potential?

We are a group of researchers from a wide range of disciplines and with a range of responses and ideas about witchcraft. This group provides a space to consider the witch more widely and across disciplinary boundaries.

Get in touch

We welcome enquiries on any aspect of witchcraft. The group reflects interests and approaches across disciplines, historical periods, forms and perspectives.

Email: interdisciplinarywitches@yorksj.ac.uk

Bluesky: @interdiscwitchysj.bsky.social

Instagram: @interdiscwitchysj