Kinda annoying to hear the Witches speak of themselves as an oppressed minority - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TheLittleFaerie · 07-31-2022, 05:02 AM

If I remember right there were some episodes where Samantha and the other Witches would talk about the hatred and prejudice they face from humans, sorta putting themselves in marginalized status..... I mean they are ALL POWERFUL and can do ANYTHING! That's hardly being oppressed! They may be a minority, but in this case they are a privileged powerful minority, who could literally overtake the human majority anytime they chose

Alan Brady's Hair · 07-31-2022, 09:11 AM

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.

TheLittleFaerie · 07-31-2022, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.

The witches DO seem to like SOME mortals.... Larry Tate always seemed to be respected among Samantha's family for some reason lol

But yeah I often hear ppl compare the Witches on the show to black people, or LGBTQ people today being marginalized or misunderstood.... and I just don't think it's a good comparison when the witches literally have the power to do most ANYTHING they want.... By definition to be marginalized you have to be at a power disadvantage

Alan Brady's Hair · 07-31-2022, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Larry Tate always seemed to be respected

Exactly.

GentlemanJim · 07-31-2022, 03:30 PM

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?

TheLittleFaerie · 08-01-2022, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?

Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire lol Can you imagine a mob trying to burn Maurice at the stake!? Poor them lol
I think Samantha even said that, that no real witch would have stood still to being executed.

That's what I'm saying, I don't see how they are marginalized when they are virtually omnipotent and can do virtually ANYTHING they want

GentlemanJim · 08-01-2022, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire

Do not (many) Blacks act like they still are "victims" of slavery? Over a hundred years later? Why should witches be held to a time limit?

Seems there is a faint recollection of Dr Bombay lamenting about "mortal privilege"

GentlemanJim · 08-01-2022, 12:58 PM

I guess one might argue that the witch trials created an aura of scorn and shame around the witches, reinforcing negative stereotypes they suffer under to this day, irrespective of their personal empowerment?

Arfies · 08-01-2022, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches.

I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.

I think being mortal is the flaw in Endora's eyes because the show is a metaphor for a mixed marriage, so she and Maurice are prejudiced. So is Darrin.

Also: this sounds like an interesting read. Do you have a link?

Arfies · 08-01-2022, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Seems there is a faint recollection of Dr Bombay lamenting about "mortal privilege"

I don't think that ever happened.

Arfies · 08-01-2022, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

RE: marginalized or misunderstood (**ahem**) Salem witch trials anyone?

Even in the context of the show (in season 7 when they actually went to Salem, though not in certain other episodes), the witches explain there were no real witches in Salem- they were humans, victims of mortal prejudice.

GentlemanJim · 08-01-2022, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfies

the witches explain there were no real witches in Salem- they were humans, victims of mortal prejudice.

Ahh, but they were still victims of the persecution. Forced to wear the stereotype.

I guess there might be considerable political capital to be gained by "owning" persecution. (disallowing claims of persecution by others) But I don't believe trying to minimize the level of suffering endured by the witches is going to gain much traction for other groups intent upon playing the victim card.

Afterall, it's only a TV show

Alan Brady's Hair · 08-01-2022, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Also: this sounds like an interesting read. Do you have a link?

No, unfortunately it was in an actual newspaper just before the internet started taking off.

Alan Brady's Hair · 08-01-2022, 03:26 PM

The complaint of the witches ignores what's obvious from their conduct in the show: that they are themselves contemptuous of mortals, treat them as the object of jokes, steal their stuff, place them in precarious situations.

Chocolate Moose · 08-01-2022, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

Still though, the Witches on the show obviously are not subject to human laws... If they were on trial they could simply take out the entire court with a blast of fire lol Can you imagine a mob trying to burn Maurice at the stake!? Poor them lol
I think Samantha even said that, that no real witch would have stood still to being executed.

That's what I'm saying, I don't see how they are marginalized when they are virtually omnipotent and can do virtually ANYTHING they want

I don' think they were omnipotent. They couldn't correct each other's spells, for example.

07-31-2022, 05:02 AM	#1
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,948	Kinda annoying to hear the Witches speak of themselves as an oppressed minority If I remember right there were some episodes where Samantha and the other Witches would talk about the hatred and prejudice they face from humans, sorta putting themselves in marginalized status..... I mean they are ALL POWERFUL and can do ANYTHING! That's hardly being oppressed! They may be a minority, but in this case they are a privileged powerful minority, who could literally overtake the human majority anytime they chose

07-31-2022, 09:11 AM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,830	Yes, this is exactly right. I've actually seen a very good deconstruction of the show from a Marxist perspective that Darrin is this object of ridicule, while the witches are a bunch of dilettantes who never work, but never lack for anything. And Sam's family are upper crust among witches. I've often wondered if being mortal is Darrin's great flaw in Endora's eyes, or if it's just the fact that he has to go to work every day.
	Last edited by Alan Brady's Hair; 07-31-2022 at 11:18 AM.

07-31-2022, 03:30 PM	#5
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	RE: marginalized or misunderstood (ahem) Salem witch trials anyone?
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

08-01-2022, 12:58 PM	#8
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I guess one might argue that the witch trials created an aura of scorn and shame around the witches, reinforcing negative *stereotypes* they suffer under to this day, irrespective of their personal empowerment?

08-01-2022, 03:26 PM	#14
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,830	The complaint of the witches ignores what's obvious from their conduct in the show: that they are themselves contemptuous of mortals, treat them as the object of jokes, steal their stuff, place them in precarious situations.