Investigate bullying at Hogwarts on this month’s episode. In this episode, Emily and Katy talk with Ithaca College’s Katharine Kittredge and Carolyn Rennie about the history of bullying and how it relates to the social and educational environment at Hogwarts. We talk about what makes a bully and how that conception has perhaps changed over time in the western world. Katharine explains how eighteenth-century writers tended to think of bullying as natural to children and inevitable in the school setting, especially where differences of privilege existed. The nineteenth century revised that view to consider bullying as a deviant behavior or the result of a problem in the bully’s psychology, which is more like our view today. Carolyn discusses the modern and feminine forms of bullying, especially facilitated by social media, and the volatile context in which kids can be both bullied and bullies depending on the situation at any given moment. The Harry Potter stories’ relationship to Tom Brown’s School Days provokes a comparison of the way both portray boarding school bullying behavior. Katharine explains how bullying was regarded in the history of British boarding schools and how novels reflected real-world changes. Bullying was sometimes seen as a pedagogical strategy in institutions, as peer pressure was used to enforce social norms. We also talk about gender dynamics in the bullying in pre-Victorian school stories, and how boy-bullying and girl-bullying differed. Katharine and Carolyn point out where these echoes resound in the Harry Potter series and how they influence character development. We explore how bullying manifests in both generational and intergenerational relationships, including from teacher to student. Are Hogwarts bullies humanized over the course of the series? From class differences to race, gender, and a variety of intersectional identities, bullying reveals intricate social dynamics in the wizarding world that have lessons for us Muggles. Join us for a thorough discussion that does not leave J.K. Rowling’s own words and actions unexamined. Stay after class for our special segment “Food Fight,” where we throw down over the question: Who is the bigger bully, James Potter or Severus Snape?

Reading, Writing, Rowling

Potterversity Episode 14: Hogwarts Bullies

Decode magical numbers on this month's episode! Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Lana Whited (Ferrum College) about one of the more mysterious of the magical subjects at Hogwarts: Arithmancy. We discuss where this subject fits in the Hogwarts core curriculum, its historical and etymological roots, and its meaning within the Harry Potter series. And, for that matter, how do you even pronounce it? Arithmancy is a type of divination using numbers used to predict events in the ancient world. Lana walks us through how to do these calculations and how to understand the numbers that result. Pointing out that we quite commonly assign significance to numbers (hello, lucky episode #13!), Lana explains the significance of important numbers in the Harry Potter books, like 3, 4, and 7. Much numerical significance comes from people’s observations of the heavenly bodies, and the number 7 specifically represented the divine across historical eras. Why does Hermione loathe Divination but not Arithmancy? We also talk about math-whiz Oliver from Puffs and his frustration with the lack of math at Hogwarts - why wouldn't Arithmancy be enough for him? Lana helps us understand the nuances of these characters' responses to the subject, and considers that Arithmancy may be the best integration of art and science among the Hogwarts courses. This subject, like astrology and other kinds of divination, gives people a sense of order when times are uncertain or unsettled, and appeals because it finds meaning deeply embedded in the universe. Wizarding society certainly takes this subject seriously, and we discuss why that is. Lana tells us the arithmancical numbers for a variety of characters, which reveal their key characteristics. Hogwarts students' favorite school subjects in general seem to reveal something important about their personality and growth arc across the series, and so we explore what Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Herbology represent for character development. We also wonder why there's no literature class at Hogwarts, and whether there are other magical subjects that should be taught that are surprisingly missing. Should the students be learning Occlumency . . . or not? What do you think Hogwarts should be teaching that they don’t? For our special segment, join Emily and Katy in the Potterversity common room as they do some Arithmancy homework. Feel free to do your homework, too, with Dr. Whited's Arithmancy worksheet! 

Potterversity Episode 13: Don't Know Much About . . . Arithmancy

Harry’s explorations of loss, grief, and the nature of death borrow heavily from classical visions of the underworld, especially Virgil's Aeneid. In this episode, Katy and Emily talk to Dr. Vassiliki (Lily) Panoussi, Chancellor Professor of Classical Studies at William and Mary, about references in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to Virgil's Aeneid. Lily tells us about this ancient Roman origin story, which also references classical Greek texts like The Iliad and The Odyssey. It explores themes like heroism, sacrifice, community, friendship, and grief. Virgil's story about Aeneas's journey was immediately influential in the Roman Empire and remained so throughout western literary history. Lily explains that J.K. Rowling seems to consciously draw on the epic structure and themes of this classical story, particularly to serve a similar purpose as "a foundational epic that will have impact on the real world." Like Aeneas, Harry is supposed to usher in a new global era. Lily teaches us about katabasis, or descent, used to describe underworld journeys. Travel to the world of the dead plays a crucial role in the hero’s development in ancient Greek and Roman literature. Harry, too, has underworld journeys that shape him in each book, including the Mirror of Erised, the Chamber of Secrets, the tunnel under the Whomping Willow, the graveyard, the Department of Mysteries, and the caves of Inferi. Deathly Hallows multiplies the number of underworld journeys for our hero. Harry's visit to Godric's Hollow evokes Aeneas's trip to Buthrotum, a town that represents his old life and also helps him move through his feelings of loss and grief and back to the world of the living. We also learn about ancient-world death rituals, including games, that helped people deal with loss without ceasing to live themselves. Lily provides a nuanced reading of Harry's burial of Dobby based on parallels with The Aeneid that will make you think of it in a new, profound way. We also learn about connections to the story  of the King of the Wood and Aeneas's quest for the Golden Bough, which are evoked in not only magic wands but also another magical object that might surprise you. There are several symbolic cues to Harry being in the liminal space between life and death. King’s Cross Station is just such a liminal space at the end of Deathly Hallows, and we have a vibrant discussion of how it specifically references classical underworld experiences. This scene is the culmination of several lessons in leadership for Harry and provides a rebirth from which Harry can establish a new, more peaceful era for wizarding society. Emily and Katy provide the Muggle News for our special segment, with information on upcoming conferences for Potter scholars. Check out the Harry Potter Academic Conference and the Southwest Popular and American Culture Conference. Let us know if there are conferences or festivals you love in the Potterverse!

Potterversity Episode 12: Harry and Aeneas in the Underworld

On this episode, we're reading Harry Potter through trauma theory, Fat Studies, and semiotics - and from the perspective of a nonbinary trans scholar of young adult literature. What does it meant to be a Potter scholar? Get a glimpse of one academic's research into a variety of topics in the Harry Potter books. In this episode, Emily and Katy talk with Tolonda Henderson, former librarian and current scholar of the intersections of disability, race, and adolescence in young adult literature, about their research into the seven-book series. Tolonda shares how they became interested in Potter scholarship, wondering "Why is Madame Pince so useless?" and then moving to a wide array of Potterian topics. "What the text says matters," Tolonda explains, and so looking closely at the language and symbols used in the books has become an essential part of their study of Harry Potter and other young adult literature. Tolonda decodes for us the symbolic and textual memorialization of Harry's family in Godric's Hollow to understand why the monuments were built, their purpose for the wizarding community, and the role they play in Harry's own psychological journey. Tolonda also reveals to us how descriptions of fat characters (like Neville, Dudley, and Professor Slughorn) affect the ways we understand them, and how we are influenced by "thin thinking." Tolonda has studied the way the books convey trauma through descriptions of the physical and psychological descriptions of peritraumatic disassociation. Trauma distorts Harry’s sense of space, time, and his own embodiment, most clearly represented in the scene at King’s Cross Station, and the books have something important to say about how to navigate such crises. As a nonbinary trans literary scholar, Tolonda also tells us how their scholarship has been affected by statements made by the author last summer. Is it possible or desirable to continue to study Potter, given those statements? Tune in to hear their thoughts on this difficult question as well as their ideas for other young adult fiction to read this summer. 

Potterversity Episode 11: Reading the Signs

Universes collide as we imagine the story of the founding of Hogwarts in the form of a Shakespeare play.In this episode, we're joined by Ian Doescher, author of William Shakespeare's Star Wars as well as Shakespearean retellings other of modern tales. He tells us about how he first embarked on this project and what made Star Wars a natural fit for Shakespeare. Ian is particularly struck by how Shakespeare mines human emotion and provides insight into characters' motives and feelings with soliloquies - something we don't get during emotional but silent scenes on film, such as Luke Skywalker watching the binary sunset on Tatooine. We love Star Wars and Shakespeare here at Potterversity, but what does this have to do with Harry Potter? It comes down to an intriguing line in the FAQ section of Ian's website, which explains that he had an idea for the story of the Hogwarts founders as told by Shakespeare, which unfortunately did not receive permission to go forward from the powers that be. We talk about why this was the Potter story Ian was drawn to, which Shakespearean themes and characters are echoed in this tale, the role of the supernatural in Shakespeare's work, how the Sorting Hat would fit in, and why Shakespeare was obviously a wizard. As Katy mentions that she finds Voldemort to be relatively two-dimensional and thinks he could benefit from a soliloquy, Ian discusses why he enjoys writing villains and how exciting it was to hear Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) read from The Jedi Doth Return. Emily brings up the genre of pastiche, which involves imitating another writer's style, and Ian explains how he both tries to shed insight on the form of Shakespearean drama and give new life to the story he is retelling. Translating contemporary language into early modern English and iambic pentameter poses its own challenges, and Ian doesn't stop there. He works to employ the various literary devices Shakespeare used and keep iconic scenes recognizable and humorous while transforming them.  Ian is continuing his retellings with William Shakespeare's Avengers and his Star Wars pastiches with I Wish I Had a Wookiee, a book of Star Wars poetry in the style of Shel Silverstein. As for William Shakespeare's History of Hogwarts, the rights remain elusive, but if permission ever came through, Ian would gladly pick up his quill. In our Owl Post segment, two listeners ask whether Darth Vader and Kylo Ren deserved their redemption and if Voldemort could have been redeemed. We get into the ethical and theological weeds of whether redemption can ever be truly deserved or must be earned. 

Potterversity Episode 10: William Shakespeare's History of Hogwarts?

Explore the many dark connections between Harry Potter and Dracula, two stories of love, death, and the conquest of evil.In this episode, Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Beatrice Groves (Literary Allusions in Harry Potter, Bathilda’s Notebook) about the many parallels between Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the Harry Potter series. Hogwarts evokes Count Dracula’s castle, and J.K. Rowling and Stoker evoke similar impressions of eastern Europe as a place where dark magic dwells. Despite the scarcity of actual vampires in Harry Potter, Rowling evokes vampiric imagery with both Voldemort and Snape. Rowling even drew early images of Snape where he looks like the Count. Does Quirrell have a parallel in Dracula? Harry parallels Dracula’s heroine, Mina Harker, especially in having a traumatic experience with the villain that creates a continuing psychic connection. Ideas about blood and the transfer of blood exist in both works, creating similar questions about purity and power. Dracula also has objects that keep him alive - boxes of soil - much like Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Defeating Dracula and defeating Voldemort follow similar plot paths, including the way they die. Bea reveals a fascinating association between the Horcrux locket’s destruction and Dracula that you will not want to miss. Albus Dumbledore’s parallel in Stoker’s novel is the famous vampire hunter Van Helsing. Both, Bea explains, represent the author’s voice and perspective. Other fascinating links abound as well, so tune in!  Feeling thirsty? In our special segment, return to the Three Broomsticks where Emily explains how to make Sanguini Martinis and the Sanguini Sangria Surprise! 

Potterversity Episode 9: Harry Meets Dracula

'Our Puffs-palooza continues as we talk with some of the talented people behind the play Puffs. We continue our conversation about the wonderful fan re-vision of the Harry Potter series, the off-Broadway play Puffs. Emily and Katy discuss with Matt Cox (Puffs creator) and Stephen Stout (Puffs actor and producer) the creative process behind the making of the play. Note: This episode contains spoilers of the play. Matt and Stephen explain how they became fans of Harry Potter, and then fan-creators. Matt tells us how he came up with the idea for the play, and Stephen how he became a “fandom anthropologist,” especially by visiting Universal Studios’ Wizarding World theme park in preparation for working on the play, convincing him they had to be “responsible in their fooling” because of how much the series means to fans. Interested in the nostalgic expression of pop culture, Matt embraced the tragic and comic aspects of the Harry Potter series, and the way the Puffs' perspective magnifies those elements. He played on the idea that kids reading the series as it came out imagined themselves getting a Hogwarts letter; that moment was rooted in the culture of the 1990s and those fans’ memories of their growing-up years. They also share how they made an alternate universe that echoes Harry’s world, and how social media helped the show take off in popularity. As the audience grew, Matt was able to tweak the show in response to audience reactions. The show started as more of a comedy, but the story developed more fully to develop its emotional heart. Stephen reveals some of the alternate endings of the play and how they adjusted it as time went on. Matt and Stephen explain the advantages of theater as a medium that takes the audience on a full journey, allows actors to play multiple parts (like Cedric and Voldemort), and creates the magic of the wizarding world with a only few small cues to the audience. They reveal how some of the funniest moments of the show were created. Puffs creates a shared experience between actors and audience that brings excitement and joy. As Puffs is performed in different US states and in Australia, the producers have encouraged making changes to adapt the references so that the audience is always in on the joke. The “rough magic,” improvisation, and adaptability of the show is central to its success. Despite the satire and playful critiques, Matt and Stephen emphasize the earnest parts of Puffs that make it a love letter for the Harry Potter series. How do we interact with Harry Potter as responsible fans? Stephen and Matt talk about navigating changes in the fandom by adding elements to Puffs and its additional, related stories that major movie franchises perhaps do not have the courage to do. Emily asks about how Puffs pushes the envelope on the Harry Potter underdog narrative in showing us other underdog perspectives we may not have considered.Don’t miss this smart and hilarious conversation revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the off-Broadway play Puffs. Check out more fun from these talented folks at The Ultra Corporation on YouTube! 

Potterversity Episode 8: The Puffs' Perspective - Part 2

Join us for the beginning of our Puffs-palooza! In this episode, we talk with Dr. Melissa Aaron and Dr. Lauren Camacci about the off-Broadway play Puffs - how you can see it at home, why should see it (if you haven’t already), and why we love it so much. Warning: Spoilers abound in this episode!   Puffs imagines the seven-book Harry Potter series in a compressed timeline and from the perspective of students in Hufflepuff in those same years. This is a fan fiction approach that Henry Jenkins calls refocalization, which retells a story from the perspective of marginalized characters to provide new insights. Melissa, a theater historian who saw the play in New York, explains how the in-person play experience is different from seeing it on film, and we consider whether the play is satire, parody, or something else, and what makes it so funny. It creates an in-group experience for fans and millennials. Bringing Muggle pop culture, including fantasy geekdom, into Hogwarts corrects a gap in the original series. The character of Hufflepuff Oliver reminds us that a good student in the Muggle world would not necessarily be good in magic and that Hogwarts lacks basic education high schoolers of all kinds need, including math and sex ed (the latter hilariously taught by Professor Snape (Stephen Stout) in Puffs). Lauren points out that the play’s portrayal of Harry highlights his privilege and the favoritism he receives, especially from Dumbledore, making us question his character and examine the everyday heroism of his Puffs parallel, Wayne, who Melissa calls “The Unchosen One.” In celebrating more mundane moral qualities (friendship, kindness, bravery, sacrifice) - absent the greater save-the-world destiny - Puffs truly gets to the heart of the Harry Potter series. Are you a Puff? Are you such a Puff? We talk about the Hufflepuff house identity and how perceptions of it may have changed. Seeing Cedric’s death from the Hufflepuff perspective provides a point of view that makes us read the original Harry Potter books differently. We compare Cedric’s characterization in Puffs and in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and discuss the two plays more generally, pondering which seems more true to the spirit of the original character and book series. Each play provides a different theater experience, and even the commercial aspects of the two productions differ. Dear Listener, which of these two plays do you prefer? Share your thoughts with us! In a fascinating listener follow-up, our Owl Post segment poses questions about wand violence based on Potterversity Episode 4: “Violence and Civilization.”  Stay tuned for our next episode in which we talk with Puffs creator Matt Cox and actor Stephen Stout! You will not want to miss our conversation. 

Potterversity Episode 7: The Puffs' Perspective

Are the Harry Potter novels fantasy, mystery, school story, bildungsroman, allegory, or something else? Harry Potter’s blend of genres shapes reader expectations and creates fascinating intersections. In this episode, Dr. Tison Pugh (Pegasus Professor of English at the University of Central Florida) joins Katy and Emily to discuss the wide variety of genre conventions, patterns, and themes employed in the Harry Potter series. Tison talks about his recent book Harry Potter and Beyond (University of South Carolina Press, 2020), which explores how J.K. Rowling’s novels use and also manipulate a variety of genres. Tison assures us that genre fiction can be high-quality, innovative, and worthy of study. No one genre defines the Harry Potter books, and that allows Rowling to expand both plot and themes in surprising directions.  For example, we talk about how the fairy tale and hero’s myth genres influence gender dynamics of the wizarding world in somewhat opposing ways. Reflecting on this intersection helps us to understand the balance of epic battles with personal, domestic moments in the books, including the much-maligned epilogue. Wizarding world politics also fit within certain genre conventions. When we read the series, are we hearing Rowling’s politics, or are we absorbing the politics of certain genres? Although the novels play with the conventions of mystery fiction, Harry is not exactly a good detective, which inspires us to think critically about his heroism and Hermione as a supportive detective protagonist. Rowling’s main allegorical subjects - the crucifixion and World War II - are violent and disturbing. Tison talks about whether the Harry Potter books sanitize those in troubling ways or make way for more sophisticated thinking about them, and how this relates to Rowling’s quite gruesome Cormoran Strike books. We also talk about what constitutes the “canon” and where the movies, author statements, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child fit in our evaluation of the Harry Potter series.  How much should we consider Rowling’s own intentions and political ideas when we think about these books? Tison teaches a Harry Potter class at UCF, and in this episode’s Owl Post from listener Elise, we all consider how we might responsibly continue to teach these books given Rowling’s statements about trans people. Please join us for this lively yet deep exploration of the literary structure and value of the Harry Potter books. 

Potterversity Episode 6: The Hero with a Thousand Genres

A Valentine for...Uncle Vernon?  In this episode of Potterversity, Katy and Emily talk with scholar Tim Jennings about Vernon Dursley in a way that, if it doesn’t redeem Harry’s uncle, does seek to humanize him. Why is Uncle Vernon the way that he is? What motivates him? Why is he so awful to Harry? We explore Vernon’s relationships with his wife Petunia and his sister Marge to determine what we know about how Vernon grew up, his social influences, and why he loathes the magical world. Enjoying contrarian readings of texts and using psychology to analyze literary characters, Tim provides a nuanced view of why Uncle Vernon acts as he does.  Although the series almost exclusively follows Harry’s perspective, the first chapter of the very first book begins from Vernon’s perspective, indicating his importance as a foil for Harry and the wizarding world. The Dursleys’ desperate clinging to the “perfectly normal, thank you very much” has a profoundly significant effect on the reader’s experience of the series. Tim explains why this is a good place to begin our journey into the magical realm. Vernon’s character - his anger and alienation - develops over the seven books. How Vernon performs his roles as husband, father, and even boss reveals his understanding of success and what methods he sees as key to building a good life. We question whether Vernon’s ideas about the wizarding world are just an intense reflection of Petunia’s own or if they develop based on his own negative experiences with Dumbledore and other wizards.  Looking at Aunt Marge provides clue for how Vernon might have turned out even worse - in general and towards Harry particularly. Tim suggests provocatively that Vernon may have experienced abuse in his own childhood. In our conversation, we find some reason to feel sympathy for Vernon. What do you think?  In our special segment in the Potterversity Staff Room, Tim talks with Emily and Laurie Beckoff about how Vernon or, more likely Dudley, could break free of a family pattern of abuse. 

Potterversity Episode 5: Uncle Vernon

What does the prevalence of violence in the Harry Potter series tell us about magical civilization - and our own?  Despite its theme of nonviolence, there’s a fair amount of violence in the Harry Potter series. On this episode, Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Aurélie Lacassagne, Associate Professor of Political Science at Laurentian University - Sudbury, in Ontario, Canada. Aurélie explains how the Harry Potter novels, which have struck a resonant chord with readers worldwide, reveal important tensions in what scholar Norbert Elias called the “civilizing process.”  As Aurélie notes, Elias connects “civilization” to self-restraint, interdependency, emotional control, and the taming of violence. However, he notes that “decivilizing” also occurs dynamically in all societies as social restraints are tested and emotions boil over. Although members of the Order of the Phoenix show empathy and try to restrain violence where possible, the Death Eaters conversely gain pleasure from torture and murder, without shame or disgust. Pure-bloods, a cohesive group who think of themselves as more established and rooted in tradition, embrace an exclusive notion of society, expressing fear and hatred of outsiders. These outsiders are deemed unworthy of social protection or empathy. Death Eater violence thus contributes to decivilizing forces in wizarding society. Most members of the wizarding community are engaged in the civilizing process, but fear can impel even non-Death Eaters - including members of the Ministry of Magic - to let loose their baser human tendencies. The Harry Potter series shows how difficult it is to constrain one’s emotions, not only for Death Eaters but for the good characters in the series like Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Civilizations create release valves for strong emotions to channel them productively (Quidditch!). So much of Dumbledore’s advice emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between expressing our feelings and following social restraints. We must express love and empathize with others, but also be capable of experiencing remorse, which we can see in Snape but not Tom Riddle.  Remorse is vital for the civilizing process not only for the one who experiences remorse but also for the larger community, which can then extend forgiveness. Aurélie shares how our experience of decivilizing moments in our own history can reinforce the value of the “global survival unit” that recognizes the unity and value of all humanity, extending community protections to all. History and literature provide witnesses by adoption. Both the Harry Potter novels and the history of twentieth-century fascism engage our emotions, pointing to love, friendship, and empathy as the core values of human civilization.  In our special segment, Emily and Katy discuss the scene in Prisoner of Azkaban where Hermione punches or slaps Draco in the face. Is this decivilizing violence? How do we feel about this moment of unrestrained aggression? 

Potterversity Episode 4: Violence and Civilization

Uncover the meaning of Christmas in the Harry Potter novels.  On this episode, Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Beatrice Groves (author of Literary Allusion in Harry Potter and blogger at Bathilda’s Notebook) about the Christmases at Hogwarts and how they culminate in the final book’s graveyard scene at Godric’s Hollow. Emily points out that J.K. Rowling uses Christmas as a way to highlight the magic of the world she created, the particular magic of the season special even in a magical realm. Bea explains the significance of Harry choosing to stay at Hogwarts for most of his holiday breaks - and Ron, too!   One of the most important elements of Hogwarts Christmas, Bea points out, is its communal nature - sitting at a communal table, the Hogwarts faculty letting their hair down, and the merrymaking and gift exchanges that strengthen ties of fellowship. Important events happen on Christmas at Hogwarts that have larger symbolic relevance: Harry getting the Invisibility Cloak and the Firebolt as gifts, his discovery of the Mirror of Erised, and the trio taking Polyjuice Potion (which Bea likens to the “incarnational ideal”). Bea explains the surprising significance of roosters to the Christmas season. We investigate the religious themes that come through even rather secular descriptions of Christmas practices at Hogwarts.  From our view of Neville’s Christmas in Book 5, we contemplate the strength of Neville’s character displayed at St. Mungo’s and the religious significance of the parallel between Neville and Harry. Rowling often buries important themes in jokes or humor, but these have deeper resonance later in the series. Bea connects Christmas carols (like “In the Bleak Midwinter”) and Christmas fairy tales to the Christmas rose, or hellebore, which helps explain the last Christmas scene, in which Harry and Hermione visit Harry’s parents’ graves. That scene realizes the symbolic depths of the earlier Christmases and British religious culture represented in the series. How does one show love with empty hands but a full heart? Join us on a visit through the different Christmases of the Harry Potter books and rediscover the magic of the season.  Our special segment this week takes you to Happy Hour at the Three Broomsticks for a special holiday wizard cocktail! As the days grow colder, we hope that this potion and this episode will warm your heart. 

Potterversity Episode 3: A Very Harry Christmas

Rule-breaking for the right reasons on this episode of Potterversity. Katy and Emily talk with Dr. Beth Sutton-Ramspeck about her analysis of rule-breaking and creativity in the Harry Potter series. In the early 2000s, some parents wanted the Harry Potter books banned because the students at Hogwarts often broke the rules without consequences. We talk about why this misbehavior may actually point to important moral choices for the students, as they understand there are multiple sets of “rules” or principles in place at any given time. Sometimes the trouble they make is what John Lewis called “good trouble,” or evidence of Martin Luther King Jr.’s concept of “creative maladjustment.” We examine a variety of apparently maladjusted characters in the series: where they come by their perspective and how it’s useful to them. What constitutes creativity, and why is breaking the rules - and even defiance - a key part of it? The Death Eaters and villains like Dolores Umbridge and Voldemort are some of the most magically creative characters, but there are critical limitations to their creative expression. We look at the trio’s rebellious behavior as well as the pivotal importance of outsider characters like Luna Lovegood and Dobby, who some see as not only “weirdos” but also perhaps insane. And of course the Weasley twins bring their own brand of mischief - is it just troublemaking, or does it qualify as “good trouble”? Racial inequalities and injustice abound in the wizarding world and in our own; sometimes you can’t solve those problems by following the rules. Creative maladjustment to racism provides opportunities to change the system for the better. Our special “Owl Post” this week focuses on whether Hogwarts ought to banish Slytherin’s name from the school, due to his past misdeeds. We share our opinions. What do you think?

Potterversity Episode 2: Good Trouble

Catch a glimpse of the latest in Harry Potter scholarship and get oriented to our new podcast!  In our first episode, Emily and Katy introduce the virtual Potter Studies education you can expect from Potterversity. We discuss the Harry Potter Academic Conference (HPAC) at Chestnut Hill College, which this year was held virtually. Kudos to Karen Wendling and Patrick McCauley for pulling off this gathering successfully in a way that allowed Potter scholars from all over the world to interact with each other. Hear about some of our favorite presentations, including Brent Satterly’s talk on LGBTQ responses to J.K. Rowling and several excellent close-readings of the books and movies. Many former Reading, Writing, Rowling guests appeared to discuss humor (Louise Freeman), Hogwarts: A History (Lana Whited), “creative maladjustment” (Beth Sutton-Ramspeck), Merlin and Dumbledore (Laurie Beckoff), and Quidditch (Caitlin Harper). In his featured presentation, Chris Bell wondered about whether we could read Harry as biracial to understand his position between two worlds. On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder’s keynote was an eye-opening political analysis connecting the history of totalitarianism to the Harry Potter books - with insights for us today as well.  You’ll also get to hear about the papers Emily and Katy presented at the conference. Emily explains the thinking behind her talk about food and the eucharist in the wizarding world. As a liturgist, Emily became interested in the table fellowship at the end of Deathly Hallows, which has eucharistic overtones. Looking closely at the Sorcerer’s Stone, Emily tells us why there is so much emphasis on food, and how food is represented as transformative in an alchemical sense. Stay tuned for a “Dining Hall” episode on a future Potterversity episode where we’ll explore this topic even more. Katy’s presentation pondered whether Arthur Weasley’s “misuse of Muggle artifacts” is actually cultural appropriation, particularly with his bewitching of the Ford Anglia. Cultures do not stay static and isolated, but when does cultural borrowing become theft or offensive? The divide between Muggles and wizards - including wizard secrecy - makes this a complex question and helps us to approach the issue with sensitivity and nuance.  The HPAC this year showed that Potter Studies reflects current social and political developments. Our times themselves are politically charged, and the Harry Potter books reveal that these trends have a long arc visible even two decades ago. Talking about issues in the context of the wizarding world allows us to engage with complex problems and political realities in a more neutral setting. Some problems recur in successive generations, which the series reflects, and this will continue to keep the Harry Potter books relevant.  Our special segment for this episode: "Overheard in the Potterversity Staff Room" (with Katherine Sas). 

Potterversity Episode 1: Orientation

In imaginative fiction, bridges provide access to magical and dangerous worlds.  During this month’s episode, Katy and Emily talk about bridges in the Harry Potter books and movies. We’ve scoured the books and films for bridge images and references to see where they’re used and how. There are not many bridges in the books - though the Brockdale Bridge’s destruction at the beginning of Book 6 and the bridge in “The Tale of the Three Brothers” have important metaphorical significance. The villainous Dolores Umbridge also acts as a conduit for evil into Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. The movies make good use of bridge imagery in thoughtfully chosen moments that make us ponder what connections or transformations are made there.  We also talk about how each of the seven books of the Harry Potter series creates a literary bridge from one book to the next, keeping us reading. Looking at beginnings and endings of the books helps us to see how each book provides a sense of conclusion, but also leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen next. These bridges from book to book simultaneously reinforce the connection we Muggle readers feel to this fantasy realm and forge links between Harry and the wizarding world, where he feels more at home.  Here at the RWR podcast, we are hoping to create a strong bridge for you, our listeners, to lead you to our new, magical podcasting adventure: Potterversity! We are making a few changes to our format and proceeding under a new name, but most of our team is the same, including Katy and Emily and many of your favorite guests. Although we will not be doing any more RWR podcasts after this one, you will still have access to archived episodes. To continue your higher education Hogwarts experience, please do join us at Potterversity: A Potter Studies Podcast, made in association with MuggleNet, where you will continue to get the incisive academic perspective on the books and fan culture you love. 

Episode 46: A Bridge to Something Magical

Reading, Writing, Rowling: Imagination and Fiction in the Age of Harry Potter: Join Katy McDaniel (Professor of History at Marietta College) and John Granger (the Dean of Harry Potter Scholars) in association with MuggleNet.com for a podcast focused on the scholarship of J.K. Rowling’s literary works, featuring the most prominent researchers and the most inspirational ideas in the field of Potter Studies today.

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Reading, Writing, Rowling

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