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Summary: Renaissance ideology positioned the witch as deviant and dangerous. Using common cultural perceptions, Shakespeare's and Middleton's dramas help both to define and to produce alternative notions of the witch. Analyzing the function of the witch as cultural icon reveals why the cultural community scapegoated certain women, particularly "wise women." These women were often older and unattached, uncanny in their powers of perception and unruly in their refusal to conform to societal norms. Such women challenged the discourse of power employed by patriarchy. The Tempest requires the reader to read through Prospero's propaganda to examine his motive for vilifying Sycorax. In The Witch, the witch is associated with the "masterless woman" who, in defying masculine authority, inverts the status quo, transgressing established boundaries of acceptable behavior. The witches in both these plays mirror Renaissance mores and belief structures, exposing the hypocrisy behind their civilized facades., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection, Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2002.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR., INT. 1: Author ANNE RICE. She's the author of the best-selling "Vampire Chronicles" novels. Her new book is called "The Witching Hour." REV. 1: Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Flora," the new album from electronic composer Tod Machover. It's on Bridge Records. INT. 2: Sports writer ROBERT PETERSON. Peterson's new book is called "Cages to Jumpshots." It's a history of the early years of basketball. REV. 2: Critic Maureen Corrigan pays tribute to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.