Category talk:Witch Works

For example, should we list Harry Potter because the female students are called witches? Or does the work actually have to feature a witch protagonist? Or is the dividing line somewhere in between?

@Ilikecomputers

That's a very good question. In fact, it's why I stopped adding this category to works shortly after starting to do so -- there's insufficient detail on why a work would or wouldn't qualify.

From the description: "In order for something to qualify, witchcraft must play some sort of important role in the story. A story about a supernatural romance between a werewolf and vampire with two seconds of witchcraft does not count. If the main character is a witch, feel free to add it here. If witchcraft advances the plot in some way, it probably fits."

That doesn't appear to be enough. Let's see...

• A witch doesn't have to be the protagonist in order to qualify here.
• Witchcraft, however, must play some sort of prominent role in the story. Often the entire story will be centred around it. That doesn't have to be the case, though. As long as one of the main characters interact with witchcraft (or is a witch) for over half the length of the story, it's alright. If witchcraft is used to advance the plot, but is never mentioned again after the fact, it doesn't qualify. Why? Because it shows those works are not centred around witchcraft.
• A witch is anything which calls itself a witch, performing supernatural feats magic. Why? Because going over every minute detail trying to painstakingly define what is a "witch" while ignoring the fact that new pieces of media are always redefining the trope is tedious.
• If the main character uses a Flying Broomstick, you're almost guaranteed to have a candidate.

If you guys think any different, feel free to discuss it here. I'll wait for confirmation before adding these to the main category.

I presume those extra clauses for when there is no notable witch is also for when some important plot element like a curse, a creature belonging or created by one, or a McGuffin owned by one has plot importance. That would make some sense.

I think I would agree, but an alien or an experiment using laser beams and calling itself a witch is definitely not a witch work. I would never consider Brynhildr of the Darkness an witch work because of the heavy sci-fi elements, and witch is just a convenient term in-universe to design a young girl with super-powers. In other words, to be an witch work, magic to me is essential.