Ep. 15: Alternative Realities - Witches w/ Curator Deanna Petherbridge, Practicing Witch Gabriela Herstik, Journalist Seema Yasmin; Author Kamila Shamsie; DJ & Producer Kaytranada

Stance meets artist, writer and curator, Deanna Petherbridge CBE, whose exhibition Witches and Wicked Bodies at the British Museum examined the representation of women as witches throughout European art history, from Late-Medieval times to now.

Deanna takes us on a journey of imagery on how witches have been depicted through art history by artists such as Franciso de Goya who painted a volume of works that used images of witches and witchcraft.

As part of this series, Stance travels to Los Angeles, California where they meet with Gabriela Herstik, a practicing Witch and Writer of Craft, How to Be a Modern Witch. She gives us an insight into modern day witchcraft and believes that being a witch is not about Halloween, but a way of life and a connection to a power within and to the wider community.

And we talk to award-winning journalist, Seema Yasmin who recently returned from Gujarat in India where with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, she has been investigating witch-hunts, that have claimed the lives of thousands of women.

Ushaben – A victim of witch-hunts in India

Seema talks to Stance through the varied reasons why women in India are accused of sorcery and branded as witches which leads to them being hunted, tortured and murdered.

Stance profiles the multi award-winning author Kamila Shamsie, to find out more about her most recent novel, Home Fire. Home Fire tells the story of two families torn apart when love, morality, prejudice and politics collide. We delve in to her life and revisit her memories of growing up in Karachi, Pakistan.

Finally, we catch up with DJ and Producer Kaytranada who has worked with artists such as Gorillaz, Rihanna and Solange. The Haitian-Canadian artist has gained a strong reputation as a collaborator and producer and his critically acclaimed debut album, 99.9% won him the prestigious Canadian Polaris Music Prize. We find out more about his life and his approach to making music.