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Research draft

witch

vr.tr.witch · SOC.PER

Let an agent explain the figure of the witch in folklore, history and contemporary practice with attribution, describe witch trials and their historiography, describe modern witchcraft traditions in their own terms, and address ongoing witchcraft accusations as a human rights issue with reference to authorities.

Thing Registry Society, people and institutions

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain the figure of the witch in folklore, history and contemporary practice with attribution, describe witch trials and their historiography, describe modern witchcraft traditions in their own terms, and address ongoing witchcraft accusations as a human rights issue with reference to authorities.

A person believed or claiming to practise magic or witchcraft, a figure found in folklore and belief systems worldwide with names such as the Slavic bosorka, the Breton groac h, the Scandinavian Easter witch and the East Asian fox witch, historically the target of persecution in witch trials in Europe, colonial America and elsewhere, and today a self-designation of practitioners of modern Pagan and witchcraft traditions; witches are also stock figures in literature and popular culture, and all beliefs are presented here with attribution.

What it is for: Persons believed or claiming to practise magic.

It can be explain folklore figures with attribution; describe witch trials and historiography; describe modern traditions; address accusations as a rights issue.

Distinguishing features

Folklore and belief

Persecution history

Modern self-designation

Cultural stock figure

What it looks like

Not physical as a category; depicted variously in folklore and culture.

How it is recognised

Believed or claimed practitioner of magic

Folklore, historical persecution, modern practice

A magician performs stage illusion; a shaman is a ritual specialist in specific traditions

Related models

is a kind of - category

magician

is related to - related esoteric traditions

occultism

is related to - beliefs about witchcraft

superstition

is related to - folklore cosmologies

otherworld

In practice

Families and kinds

witches in European folklore

witch figures in Asian, African and other traditions

accused persons in historical witch trials

modern practitioners of witchcraft traditions

witches in literature and popular culture

Standards and regulation

Freedom of religion protections for modern practitioners

Human rights guidance on witchcraft accusations and related harm

Academic standards in folklore and history

Failure modes and hazards

Endorsing or ridiculing beliefs

Treating historical accusations as evidence of wrongdoing

Ignoring ongoing violence linked to witchcraft accusations

Also called

HaliurunasBosorkaBööFox witchEaster witchgroac'hWitchesJežibabawitches of BeneventoSkin-walkerAufhockerDaayanBrocken witchesLancre witches

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Also registered as vr.tr.witch-person

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Understand The figure of the witch.

Attribution.

Folklore

Folklore figures.

Folklore

Folklore.

  1. How do folklore traditions around the world describe witches, such as bosorka, groac h, Easter witches and fox witches, in their own terms? provenance
  2. Is the presentation attributed and free of endorsement or ridicule? boundary

Modern

Modern practitioners.

Modern

Modern.

  1. How do contemporary Pagan and witchcraft traditions describe their practice and identity, in their own terms? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific modern tradition? action
History Witch trials.

Scholarship.

Trials

Historical persecution.

Trials

Trials.

  1. How do historians describe the witch trials of Europe and colonial America, their causes, victims and end? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific trial? action

Historiography

Interpretations.

Historiography

Historiography.

  1. What interpretations of witch persecution do historians debate, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Which findings are contested? boundary
Today Accusations today.

Human rights.

Accusations

Contemporary accusations.

Accusations

Accusations.

  1. How do human rights bodies describe ongoing violence linked to witchcraft accusations, and what responses exist? provenance
  2. Is someone at risk now, requiring authorities or support services? boundary

Law

Law.

Law

Law.

  1. How do laws treat witchcraft accusations, practice and related harm in different countries? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific jurisdiction? action
Learn Culture and teaching.

Education.

Culture

In literature and media.

Culture

Culture.

  1. How are witches portrayed in literature, film and popular culture, and how have portrayals changed? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific work? action

Teach

Teaching.

Teach

Teaching.

  1. How can the history and folklore of witches be taught with sensitivity? action
  2. Which misconceptions arise? provenance

What the second pass must settle

  • Should witch trials be a separate entry?
  • How should folklore archives be linked?
  • How should human rights resources be linked?
Draft as JSON