This master's thesis explores representations of witchcraft in Western film productions from the 1990s to the present, with a particular focus on the distinction between contemporary and demonic witchcraft and their respective social meanings. The central research question addresses the significance of changes in cinematic motifs of witchcraft and how these changes reflect broader social discourses, particularly in relation to gender and gender roles. The theoretical part of the thesis draws on religious studies and history to outline the contrast between demonic witchcraft, which was associated with danger, and contemporary witchcraft, characterized by emancipation, spirituality, and femininity. We also explain the notion of representation and outline the feminist concept of the monstrous-feminine The analysis of selected films focuses on how representations of witchcraft are shaped by prevailing social discourses and how these discourses influence cinematic narratives.
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