Today in Pop Culture: The Salem Witch Trials Begin

Published on March 1st, 2016 in: Culture Shock, Feminism, Magick, Today In Pop Culture |

By Jeffery X Martin

tipc-salem-witch-trials-header-graphic

The movie, The Witch, has brought the concept of witches back to the forefront of American culture. The film tells the story of a New England family in the 1700s, fighting against nature, boredom, and black magic. It’s based on old folk tales from the time, which are a decent reflection of history. The family in the movie chose to go outside the village gates and live on their own, unprotected by numbers or any kind of militia. It’s no wonder they get into trouble.

A very real trouble descended upon New England on this date in pop culture history. Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba may sound like the headliners for the new and improved Lilith Fair, but they were center stage for a quite different kind of show. Today, in 1692, the Salem Witch Trials began.

(more…)

Assemblog: December 13, 2013

Published on December 13th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Critics/Criticism, In Development, Movies, Trailers, TV, Upcoming Movies |

out-of-the-furnace-assemblog-header-graphic
Out of the Furnace

New this week on Popshifter: Brad was less than impressed with Paradise, but excited about Streets Of Fire; I explore the unexpected gravitas of The Wolverine and pay my respects to the new Melvins album Tres Cabrones; LabSplice shows how Arrow fights crime the Bill Gates way through product placement; Jeff waxes nostalgic about holiday tunes; and we’ve got Best Of 2013 lists for you from David Barras (Electric Man), singer/songwriter Willie Nile, our own Danny R. Phillips and Jeffery X Martin.

(more…)