Stupid Feminist WITCH MOVIES & MENTAL ASYLUM HORRORS - SPOOKTOBER! Jay Dyer & @jamiehanshaw4378
In this Spooktober discussion, Jay Dyer and Jamie Hanshaw delve into witchcraft and mental health themes in horror films, offering critiques of both lesser-known and popular titles. They humorously analyze the portrayal of witches, feministic narratives, and societal implications in films like "The Craft," "The Love Witch," and "Witches of Eastwick," while also connecting these themes to broader cultural critiques, including the history of feminism and historical practices such as eugenics. Dyer emphasizes the idea that contemporary portrayals of witchcraft often reflect control masked as empowerment, weaving together critiques of cinematic representations with a comical yet serious examination of gender dynamics and societal expectations. The conversation is enriched with insights on the absurdities of certain films and the connections between entertainment and real-world issues surrounding mental health and empowerment.
Chain 6 steps
- Jay Dyer: Kat Von D's conversion to Christianity may cause societal fears related to witchcraft.“she's worried that because Kat Von D left witchcraft for evangelical Christianity...”
via The Ward- Jay Dyer: There are themes of trauma-based mind control in various films they discussed.“trauma-based mind control.”
- Jamie Hanshaw: Discusses allegations against Marilyn Manson in relation to the Me Too movement and its impact on the focus of significant abuses.“Yes. The allegation of Evan Rachel Wood in the Me Too era was that Marilyn Manson had done something.”
- Jay Dyer: Links a Swiss mental institute to MKUltra.“this clearly has a reference, I think, to some of these mental institute psychiatric wards in Switzerland that were involved in MKUltra.”
- Jamie Hanshaw: The portrayal of witches in the film reflects societal trends in the dating culture.“What do you mean? When people are just going around using each other in the dating world and the hookup culture...”
- Jay Dyer: Jack Nicholson's character is a devilish patriarch.“the devil is a man, a seductive, patriarchal, predator male class.”
Subjects
41Jay critiques the film as dumb and discusses its superficial success due to star power.
Jay Dyer discusses 'Practical Magic', criticizing it as a 'stupid movie' and noting its unexpected comedic tone compared to earlier intentions for a darker narrative.
Jay presents a critique of the film 'The Love Witch' which he describes as a satire with realistic elements of witchcraft.
Jay describes Nicholson's role as the devil in the film and critiques how his character seduces the women.
Jay discusses 'Death Becomes Her' as a satire on Hollywood culture and vanity, emphasizing its themes of competing for youth.
Jay discusses Dr. Ewan Cameron's connection to mind control techniques in mental institutions during the 20th century.
Jay jokingly suggests that Gwyneth Paltrow may be orchestrating a rise in witchcraft to promote her products.
Jay critiques Hollywood's culture, especially its treatment of beauty and youth, highlighting its absurdity.
Marian Zimmer Bradley is mentioned as a prominent fantasy writer whose work helped promote witchcraft to many women in America, though her daughter has alleged that she was abusive.
Jay critiques 'Season of the Witch', describing it as a 'stink bomb' while humorously noting its initial promise before devolving into predictability and absurdity.
Jay describes 'Stonehurst Asylum' as not that bad, but criticizes its excessive twists and the chaotic character dynamics, suggesting it could benefit from a more straightforward narrative.
Jay Dyer identifies this as one of the few notable witch films amidst a sea of poor entries.