Recently, HBO adapted Roald Dahl’s 1983 novel The Witches into a film. This isn’t the first time the extremely popular novel has been adapted – it was first made into a film in 1990, and has also been turned into a radio play and an opera. It’s also a novel that’s built upon a framework of antisemitism. Dahl and Antisemitism A brief summary of The Witches, if, like me, you never read it as a child: a young boy discovers that his grandmother’s stories about witches are true. He stumbles upon a large gathering of them, lead by the Grand High Witch. So far, so fine. The problems begin when you examine the way Dahl describes these witches, and how they align with antisemitic stereotypes: The witches are described as powerful, extremely wealthy, and lurking in society, secretly passing as “normal” women. This is built upon the antisemitic, and completely…
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Allison Knight is a Branch Manager at MidPointe Library System in southwestern Ohio. She’s met many wonderful people through her service with ALSC and appreciates how committee work connects dedicated librarians from all over the country. Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks with her family, taking pictures of her daughter and cat, and playing in the garden. This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: I. Commitment to Client Group, V. Outreach and Advocacy, VI. Administrative and Management Skills, and VII. Professionalism and Professional Development.