About this event
The image of a female witch, with broom and black cat serving the devil, is ingrained in pop culture. But where did this stereotype come from? The concept of witchcraft emerged slowly over the course of several centuries as a result of theological, intellectual, and cultural changes in ideas about demons and heresy.
This talk will use feminist approaches to the past to explore medieval changes in ideas about magic, gender, and heresy in order to better understand the emergence of witchcraft at the end of the middle ages. We will also look at witchcraft in relation to female sexuality and fears about women’s access to ritual power throughout history.
Dr Jennifer Farrell is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Exeter. With interests in both gender and the medieval supernatural, her research and teaching focuses on cultural developments and their relationship to socio-political changes in Western Europe during the high and late middle ages (c. 1000- c. 1500). Her teaching has included undergraduate and postgraduate courses looking at medieval gender and sexuality, universities and learning in the middle ages, magic in the middle ages, sexualities across time and space, and the legends of King Arthur.
About Seed Talks
Seed Talks connects the UK’s top thinkers in science, psychology, philosophy and health to audiences around the country. Here you can find the talks we organise at the wonderful Juju’s Bar & Stage in Shoreditch and sister venue 91 Living Room.
Doors Open 7pm, Talk Starts at 7.30pm – Come down early to grab a drink and a good seat!
