FROM THE WITCH’S DESK

First editorial(ish)

You know, I’ve never really seen myself as a witch. Maybe because, when I was little, most witchy books were banned from my religious (evangelical) school — yes, including the ones by that famous transphobic british* writer. So I only started reading fantasy and speculative literature when I was already a teenager.

By then, my focus — or rather, distress — around figuring out who I was dominated my life, and I started devouring every piece of fantasy media I could find: mangas, animes, TV series, and anything that even remotely had “magic” in it. I remember asking my mom whether, if I read enough books, I’d acquire psychic powers like Matilda — and she confirmed it, of course!

But it was after coming into contact with Le Guin’s incredible books that I really started to understand how speculative literature could be used to discuss complex political issues that are sometimes dismissed by other genres. Although the main reference for this newsletter is, of course, L. Frank Baum’s Oz, Silvia Federici’s Caliban and the Witch is what took me to new heights in thinking about the image of the witch throughout history.

This is not that serious a newsletter, though. I created it to bring the heavy subjects we are dealing with in today’s chaotic capitalist society into a lighter, campier tone, and that is more or less what I will try to do here. Some sections will offer broader, more comprehensive analyses of social issues based on my academic and activist experience and research. Others will simply share what I’ve been up to — what I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, and so on — always from a latin american, brazilian perspective. So, expect plenty of non-english terminology and references here.

Without further ado, let’s get this hex started!

Wicked Witch from the South America.

*All nationalities are intentionally kept without capitalization, I might develop more about this decision in future issues.

Subscribe, please? It’s free ❤

THE TRANSFEMINISTA ARCHIVE

Activism, memory, and critical notes from Brazil and beyond.

Around twelve-ish years ago, I created a website and Facebook group called Transfeminismo. At the time, it was the first website and group entirely dedicated to discussing transfeminism in brazil, and almost no researcher in academia or activist in feminist groups even knew what transfeminism was.

Odd as it may seem, given how brazilian academia often loves importing gringo concepts from the north, no one seemed especially interested in learning what transfeminism meant. My younger self was eager to read and consume every piece of media about “trans” that I could find: articles, blogs, movies, and everything else. That is how I ended up reading Emi Koyama’s The Transfeminist Manifesto.

Koyama’s work was essential in helping me lay the groundwork for what brazilian transfeminism is today. I learned about her passing only a little while ago, and it saddened me deeply, especially because she died so young. Whose Feminism Is It Anyway? is another brilliant piece she wrote that shaped my activism — and one that remains painfully relevant today.

I’ll reserve this section for talking about my knowledge, experience, and research on brazilian transfeminist archives. I have a privileged point of view on this history because of my own role in its inception. So, if you want to know more about this journey into the past, please subscribe and help me keep telling this story!

THE WITCH’S LIBRARY

Comprehensive analyses because, in a world kind of dominated by one-minute reels and summarized AI content, we need deep, slow-paced, research-driven takes on complex issues more than ever. 

You can expect content in this section in future issues!

THINGS I’M CONJURING

What wicked things I’ve been reading/watching/fangirling!

Hello to all BL/GL kweens! Yes, I am very much a yaoi gal myself, so I’ve been fangirling over The Prosecutor’s Proposal, which I binge-watched on the chinese streaming platform iQIYI.

I dare not make a deep analysis of this show, especially because I lack the necessary knowledge about East Asian culture, media, and so on. But I have to say: toxic/dark romance is not really my cup of tea. Even though you can definitely count me in for any piece of media with the enemies-to-lovers trope, I sometimes feel that they put, like, too much emphasis on the enemy part of it?

I do have to acknowledge, however, what a huge step this show is compared with many previous korean BLs. Most still rely heavily on light school or college dramas, whereas this one is a legal/revenge-drama BL — and, honestly, it was a great breath of fresh air. Anyways, it was enjoyable (with some really good sex scenes 👀).

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA…

LATAM is never short of political dramas, so come with me to check the latest season’s recaps while trying not to go insane. This is where most of the political shit is kept, you can always skip it if you're not up to read not-so-good news from the South… 

(I’ll spare you — and me — from any of it in this first issue).

KEEP THE WITCH WORKING

(And housed!)

If you made it this far — yay! Thanks for reading my newsletter! ❤ — this is the section where I share my boost + help spell.

My mom has been undergoing cancer treatment for a year now. She recently finished radiotherapy and is still recovering from its side effects. I set up a Ko-fi page to crowdfund for her, and you can read more information and updates there.

If you could be so kind as to boost my Ko-fi or newsletter on your socials, I would be forever grateful! And if you are feeling extra generous, please consider donating any amount. Every $5 or $10 helps a lot because of the currency conversion. ❤

See you in our next wicked notes,

Hailey Kaas

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