Investigating Charmed The Magic Power of TV

by Beeler, Karin; Beeler, Stan

• ISBN13: 9781845114800
• ISBN10: 1845114809
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-15
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company

Summary

In 1998 Charmed, Constance M. Burge's story of three sisters who discover they are powerful witches, first aired on the WB network. With eight seasons and a run of best-selling DVDs, the series has established a continuing global presence as the very essence of cult TV. Thisis the first comprehensive guide to this groundbreaking series. It brings together for the first time expert contributors - all fans of the show - to explore the show's unique brand of witchcraft and fantasy. From notions of upturned sexuality and alternative forms of family life, to ideas of feminism and the portrayal of female heroes, this book penetrates the very heart of the 'power of three' and their crusade against the demonic population of the underworld. Looking also at the fans' relationship to the show, as well as the novels, fan fics and blogs it has spurned, the book on this fantastic magical show concludes with a complete Episode Guide which covers all eight seasons.

Author Biography

Stan Beeler is Chair of English at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada. His publications include Reading Stargate: SG-1 (co-edited with Lisa Dickson) published by I.B. Tauris in 2006.
Karin Beeler is an Associate Professor in the English Department and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Northern British Columbia. She is the author of Tattoos, Desire and Violence: Marks of Resistance in Literature, Film and Television.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Notes on contributors

Charmed Cast List

Introduction

Witchcraft, Wicca, Magic and Community

'Something Wicca This Way Comes'

Audience Interpretation of a Marginalized Religious Philosophy on Charmed

"Reclaiming Women's Language for Power and Agency

The Charmed Ones as Magical Rhetors"

"The Power of Three: Strength in Numbers and 'Wordy' Witchcraft"

"'We are witches, we can do anything": Dynamics of Ritual, Familial Tradition, and Female Identity in Charmed"

"The Power of Three as Communitas: Moments of Subversion on Charmed

Feminist Power

"I Just Want to be Normal Again": Power and Gender in Charmed

"The Power of Two – Plus One"

"Charming the Elders: Girl Power for Second-Wave Feminists"

"Old Myths, New Powers: Images of Second Wave and Third Wave Feminism in Charmed"

"Postfeminism Without Limits?

Charmed, Horror and Sartorial Style

Visual Power in Fantasy Television

"There's Nothing New In the Underworld: Narrative Recurrence and Visual Leitmotivs in Charmed"

"It Really Isn’t All Black & White: Colour-Coding, Postfeminism, & Charmed

"There's No Place Like Charmed: Domesticity, the Uncanny, and the Utopian

Potential of the City"

Charmed Episode Guide: Seasons 1 – 8

Glossary

Selected Internet Sources

Selected bibliography

Index

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