The Monetization of the Salem Witch Trials - Blog 5

    When googling "what to do in Salem, Massachusetts", 8 of the top 12 things to do on TripAdvisor have to do with witches. There's the Witch House, the Gallows Hill Museum and Theatre, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the bewitched statue of Elizabeth Montgomery, and the list goes on and on. In class the other week, we talked briefly about how witchcraft is monetized. I agreed with that idea, and I wanted to learn more about how specifically the Salem Witch Trials are monetized. The list of ghost tours and witch tours in Salem are endless, they are some of the first things that pop up when looking at Salem attractions. The attractions I listed earlier all start at about $30 per person for a ticket, and while that might not seem like an outrageous amount to begin with, I am sure that it adds up. 
    
    Additionally, there is quite the list of gift shops and little boutiques in Salem, many of course having to do with magic and witchcraft. Stores like the Black Cat Curiosity Shoppe, Moons Gift Shop, Bewitched in Salem, Coven, and Witch City Wicks all embrace the history of the town within their names. They cater to the tourists who come for the witchcraft. In an interview with the mayor of Salem from last October, it was revealed that Salem welcomes over 1 million tourists each year. This is largely due to what I've mentioned so far, in that Salem has a historic dark tourism industry. A large part of this tourism I'm sure is also due to the fact that many movies and shows are "inspired" by what took place in Salem. Movies such as Hocus Pocus, for example, which was set in Salem and so tourists can come visit where the film was made. 

    Staying on the topic of films and movies, this contributes to a greater monetization of the Salem Witch Trials. Just a quick google search reveals a list of "30 Movies and Shows Inspired by the Salem Witch Trials". And why wouldn't they make movies and shows inspired by this fascinating historical event? People are curious about the world of magic, whether they believe in it or not. People still question to this day as to what actually happened in Salem, and if witches and witchcraft exist. However, the con of popular media like this is that we began to form a skewed, less than accurate view of history. Personally, I of course had heard of the Salem Witch Trials before taking this class, but I knew little to nothing about what actually happened. Everything I knew probably came from movies, TV shows, or books. And while those are great sources of creativity and a way to pique interest in this topic, they have not always provided me with an accurate representation of the witch trials. And so, I think about how such an awful, torturous time in history has become a source of income and tourism. Really, I think popular media has glamorized the Salem Witch Trials. When in reality, the true history of it is quite sad. 

Comments

  1. williams.dan76October 16, 2024 at 5:34 AM

    Thanks, this is a great description and topic, the monetization of Salem. I'd like to address this in one of our last classes, since the irony is so great--and disturbing. I tend to think the rampant monetization trivializes the historical tragedies.

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