Am I the only Pagan out there who finds the rise in negative viewing of the occult in tv&movies offensive?

Question

dont tv and movie producers/writiers/directors do research anymore

Answer 1

I usually try to avoid watching TV...

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Blessed Be,
Pabs

Answer 2

It's not really a rise. This sort of thing has been going on for forever now. In fact, I'd say it's actually going down. When was the last time you saw a warty faced pointy hat wearing witch displayed in a public place? (for the record I love those things, and all I ever wanted to be as a kid was a witch like that.) Ever see the movie Witchboard? The original Wicker Man? Watched a movie on USA network in the middle of the night ever? I can't even remember half of them but evil witches were par for the course. At least shows like Charmed (which makes me ill not because it's inaccurate but because it's a bad show) are somewhat sympathetic.

Is the inaccuracy on the rise? I'd even venture a negative in that direction as well. Remember Bewtiched? There might be more shows out there now that involve the occult, but the tone and quality haven't really changed that much.

But no, you're far from the only one offended. A lot of people take these things to heart. I only get offended when someone makes a documentary and get things wrong just because they talked to the wrong people. If it's fiction- I don't care. The writers can go nuts. If it's supposed to be true, It had better be.

Answer 3

Don't watch it. Tell others not to watch it. TV is about ratings--how many TV's are tuned to the program. And movies are about tickets and DVDs sold. They are about money. More viewers means they can charge more money for advertising. More tickets sold is more money in the studio's pockets.
If the show or movie has a bulletin board you can post a message explaining in non-inflammatory language what is wrong with it, but it is just fiction, remember. You could start a reference blog or web site and list all the movies and TV shows which are offensive to pagans and why.

Answer 4

I completely agree, I think it's because everyone thinks that the wotd occult means evil or satan (who isn't real anyway) Occult actually means secret or hidden if you look at the latin root of it. This stems out the secrecy that pagans keep about identities of other pagans for protection purposes. They think we're all possessed or evil or greedy. I hoolywood looked at the wiccan rede, which wiccans and most other pagans adhere to in their own way it shows that what we out out comes back three or even nine fold! Why would we be evil? That's like playing russian roulette with a fully loaded gun! I'm with ya sis.

Answer 5

In the way they are portraying paganism or wicca or whitchcraft. Thats a defininte Yes. its back to the old sterotyping again.
but your right they don't do research anymore. If it's got plenty of blood and guts it will sell in the boxoffice. You can thank the tv shots of the recent wars that are desenitizeng people to more graphic scenes that their used to be . plus no represenitive on site anymore to say no that is not what were about.

Answer 6

I do not see it as offensive, but as DANGEROUS.
most of these shows and movies like the Craft and Charmed, Buffy/Angel and Supernatural give just enough information that is functional or true to history to make it believable.
but never show people what to do when things get out of hand. they do not encourage any research or faith based in religion of any kind.

it is all just mumbo jumbo light a candle change the world crap.

but even this crap can become dangerous if enough people believe in it.

I am a spiritual cleanser and i dont know how many houses i have been called to because some punk kid had to try something that they saw on tv and let it get out of control.

and aside form that these shows distort history and steal little bits of traditions form ancient cultures and showcase them in an out of context fashion. this further erodes the culture that these rituals and symbols were taken form.

do you all have any idea how many people think that druids were witches because of the use of the triquitta in "charmed"?
a druid was not always a spiritual leader. but they were always educated.

do you know how many Wiccan's that i run into that have no idea where their religion came from. they just saw it on tv and thought that it was cool.....


i could go on about this for hours.

especially if i get on to my rant about the Wiccan Goth and the negative impression that they give.

******************************************************
Hey Sig,

just so that you know.
i worship Cunnerous the Horned God
The Morrigan (in the aspect of death in battle)
Brigid
The Dagda

and i follow the teachings of
Meryddin
Fionnan
Oroum or the Evil Eye
the Warrior Achen Tho

and i follow the Native American Totem of the Bear and the Crow

just to name a few. i do have over 300 gods and goddesses and ancestors that are avaliable to me in my chosen religion.
many Celtic many not.

Yahoo will probally not give me enough space to list all of my gods and spiritual guides so i gave you the ones that i use every day.

Answer 7

They can research it and tell it's not exactly sensationalist television. We are as normal as the next person.
I find it quite unresting, but not really offensive. I only try to bring awareness that it isn't what the movies and Charmed make it out to be.
Blessed Be.

Answer 8

Tv and movies make fun of everything and everone. Race, gender, blondes vs. brunettes, gay or straight, wicca or catholic. It all entertainment. If you are offended turn off the tv.

I've studied paganism for years and know 3 Wiccas. I think the whole thing is weird. I personally feel that there is something unsettling in you. But that's my opinion.

Answer 9

Yes I am, but I know that there are some people who can't accept the truth of what it really is no matter who tells them and how many times they are told. It's nice to know that we have our little secret from the world. If they choose to ignore what we're really about, so be it. It's not my problem.

Answer 10

Which Pagan god do you worship? Are you a true Pagan or just a mouthpiece? C'mon, true Pagan's worship a god and most self-confessing Pagans today don't even know the god's available for worship.
So ignore the t.v., they give every belief a bad name.

Answer 11

Well, I'm not Pagan but, yeah it is offensive because it further proves the ignorance of the media.