The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. These trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, fourteen of whom were women. The trials were a dark and controversial period in American history, fueled by superstition, religious fervor, and political rivalries. This program will delve into the history and significance of the Salem witch trials, exploring the cultural, societal, and psychological factors that contributed to the mass hysteria and witch-hunting fervor. Through a combination of historical research, expert interviews, and dramatic reenactments, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the witch trials, their causes, and their enduring impact on American society. The program will also examine how the trials reflect broader issues of gender, power, and religious freedom in colonial America.
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The next episode will air on Wednesday, November 4th , 2020 at 12 pm ET with guest, Tara Ross , the nationally-recognized author of Why We Need the Electoral College. Judith Curry about the insights contained in her newly released book, Climate Uncertainty and Risk Rethinking our Response, in which she tracks the evolution of climate science from model development, to political weapon, to an emerging view that the best response to a changing climate is to build resiliency.
The program will also examine how the trials reflect broader issues of gender, power, and religious freedom in colonial America. By shedding light on this dark chapter in history, the program hopes to encourage critical thinking and dialogue about the dangers of fear, ignorance, and prejudice in any society..
Pulitzer-Winning Author Stacy Schiff on the Salem Witch Trials
In our special Halloween edition of “The Learning Curve,” Cara and Gerard are joined by Pulitzer-Prize winner Stacy Schiff, whose most recent book is The Witches: Salem, 1692. They discuss why, in Schiff’s view, the Salem witch trials are the “the best known, least understood chapter” of American history, and why the trials, false charges, and finger pointing, remain relevant today in our Internet culture. They review the characteristics of the accused and accusers, and compare them to perceptions passed down through the fiction of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Miller, and others. They also explore the connection between Puritanism, with its iconoclastic principles, and the American founding; and how such a highly literate society based on piety and learning could devolve into one that embraces hocus pocus, superstition, and injustice. Schiff delves into the role of gender and race in the witch trials, and what colonial Salem teaches us about how hysteria can foment civil strife and violence. She concludes with a reading from The Witches: Salem, 1692.
Stories of the Week: In North Carolina, a lawsuit was filed against the state’s opportunity scholarship program that provides up to $4,200 a year in tuition assistance for low-income students to attend private schools. Will state legislators succeed in persuading the Court to dismiss the case? In Detroit, a financial review commission has agreed to release the public school system from state oversight after nearly 11 years, a hopeful sign for a beleaguered district.
The next episode will air on Wednesday, November 4th, 2020 at 12 pm ET with guest, Tara Ross, the nationally-recognized author of Why We Need the Electoral College.
Guest:
Stacy Schiff, a Pulitzer-Prize winner, is the author most recently of The Witches: Salem, 1692, which The New York Times hailed as “an almost novelistic, thriller-like narrative.” Her previous book, Cleopatra: A Life, was published to great acclaim in 2010, appearing on most year-end best books lists, including The New York Times’s Top Ten Books of 2010, and won the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for biography. Also a #1 bestseller, Cleopatra was translated into 30 languages. Schiff is the author of Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Saint-Exupéry, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; and A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, winner of the George Washington Book Prize, the Ambassador Award in American Studies, and the Gilbert Chinard Prize of the Institut Français d’Amérique. Her books have won numerous prestigious awards and honors and she’s received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities and was a Director’s Fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. Schiff has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, and The Los Angeles Times, among many other publications.
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Reviews for "The Trials That Shook a Town: Salem's Witch Hunt"
1. John - 2/5 stars - While I appreciate the attempt to shed light on a historical event like the Salem witch trials, I found this program to be quite disappointing. The narrative felt disjointed and lacked a coherent flow, making it difficult to follow the events and fully understand the significance of each moment. Additionally, some of the reenactments and dramatizations came across as overdramatic and exaggerated, detracting from the seriousness of the subject matter. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninformed after watching this program.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I cannot express how disappointed I was with this program. As someone who takes great interest in history, particularly the Salem witch trials, I was excited to delve deeper into the subject. However, this program failed to deliver any substantial insights or provide a comprehensive understanding of the events. It felt like a rushed and incomplete overview, leaving out crucial details and failing to explore the various perspectives and motivations of the individuals involved. The lack of depth and analysis made it difficult to engage with the program, and I was ultimately left feeling unsatisfied and let down.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - The program about the Salem witch trials fell short of my expectations. While the subject matter is undeniably intriguing, the execution lacked finesse. The narration was dull and monotone, making it difficult to maintain interest throughout the program. Additionally, the lack of visual aids and engaging visuals made it challenging to stay engaged and grasp the complexities of the events. Despite my initial enthusiasm, I found myself bored and uninterested by the end of the program. Overall, I cannot recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating and informative exploration of the Salem witch trials.