Week Five: Witches

by - 7:18 AM

This week we will be discussing the topic of witches and female archetypes in speculative fiction. The featured novel for this week is Akata Witch by Nigerian-American specualtive writer Nnedi Okorafor. This is a novel about kids learning magic in Nigeria. It is well-written and interesting on a number of levels.

Aunt Mariah by Diana Wynne Jones is the alternate reading. This is a reasonably short novel that has a very interesting version of the archetypal war between men and women. Alternatively you might like to read Equal Rites, the third volume of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, and a reasonable first book to read in the series if you haven't read any others. 

Or still another choice is to read Jordie Bellaire's Redlands written and illustrated by Ringling Alums, one of the nominee's for an Eisner award for new series two years ago, it is about witches and serial killers in a community not far from Miami.


In class we will probably discuss the recent film Midsomar, and discuss other movies with witches. I suggest you watch Kiki's Delivery Service and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

Next class we will begin reading and talking about Fantasy Fiction. The featured text for next week is J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. 

Link to this week's Activity Page on the Witches


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