And as they did, they found that perhaps Hogwarts wasn’t as tolerant as they thought it had been.
#Rita skeeter trans series
What happened to the creator who once tearfully told the world that “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home”? What were the people who had dedicated 20 years of their lives supposed to feel now that the creator of their favorite world now opposed their existence on a basic moral and fundamental level?Īdult fans of the series began to go over Rowling’s work with a fine-tooth comb. It hurt the children who took refuge within the tolerant walls of Hogwarts. It affected women who had looked to her as inspiration that they too could one day create a life better for themselves. A woman who had provided hope for so many people suddenly felt compelled to out herself as intolerant of an already ostracized community, a message that opposes one she spent years of her life writing about. So when her views on the trans community became apparent, suddenly this strong, powerful force was tainted. For aspiring writers, struggling mothers, and beyond, she was a beacon of hope in a world where women often fall short. Rowling was branded as the epitome of women’s success. Those experiencing domestic violence, fellow single mothers struggling to put food on the table, and all others who felt they were trudging through mud in an attempt to keep up with male colleagues in their fields found a source of hope that Rowling managed to get her napkin-novel published after dozens of rejections, catapulting her into the billionaire class and a place amongst literary geniuses. The media and her publisher crafted the perfect rags-to-riches story for this blooming author, and while children soaked up the world of Hogwarts, witches and wizards, and magical creatures, women looked to Rowling as a source of inspiration. So from the very beginning of Potter-phenomenon, Potter was not only a refuge for children but was also touted as an inspirational story for women around the globe.
Rowling notes that she wrote the Potter series on napkins, airplane sick bags, and supposedly even a dress that still hangs in her closet. Harry Potter is presented not just as a stroke of creative brilliance that resulted in billions of dollars in revenue, it was a saving grace for a single mother depending on government assistance. Within the mainstream media, it’s impossible to separate the Potter phenomenon from its creator, largely due to the over-embellished Cinderella story surrounding Rowling and the Potter series. Fans who grew up learning about concepts like justice and standing up to corrupt institutions through the Wizarding World are now in a conflicted place: is there a way to celebrate the characters and stories we love without indirectly or directly supporting the abhorrent viewpoints of its creator? Warner Bros. Rowling’s harmful and transphobic rhetoric, which is especially hurtful for LGBTQIA+ fans who found hope in Harry Potter. But these works have been tarnished by author J.K. One of the highest-grossing film series of all time, the Harry Potter juggernaut of books, films, video games, theme parks, and more remains one of the most valuable franchises ever from a pure profit perspective (not to mention its impact on a generation of writers and readers).
This week, the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone brought complex feelings for fans of the beloved novels and films. If you are interested in supporting the trans community or need resources yourself, you can find them for the US here and the U.K. A note: Aside from the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this week marks Transgender Awareness Week in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
0 kommentar(er)
