From devoted suburban housewife to three wicked sisters, which witch is your favorite?

For centuries, witches have cast their spell on our imaginations and enchanted our stories.

Throughout folklore and pop culture, some pointed-hat witches have established their unforgettable characters, both evil and good, from the Wicked Witch of the West, in the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” film, and Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series.

So, why are witches so popular? And why can’t pop culture seem to get enough?

MPR News host Jacob Aloi, reporter Alex V. Cipolle and editor Max Sparber spend an hour exploring witches across history and culture. With their guests, the MPR News arts team will talk about the witches in one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, as well as witches in TV, film, music and books.

Guests:

• Shannon Scott is an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University and Hamline University in St. Paul and teaches English, film and creative writing. She also the author of the folk horror anthology “Harvest the Night,” by local editor C.M. Muller.

• Rob Morton plays the guitar for Box Cat, a local band in Minneapolis.

• Elise Butler-Pinkham plays the cello for Box Cat, a local band in Minneapolis.

• Cam Fassett plays the fiddle for Box Cat, a local band in Minneapolis.

• Tony Cipolle plays the banjo for Box Cat, a local band in Minneapolis.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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