MuggleNet Academia Lesson 51: “Harry Potter and the Indian in the Cupboard”

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike mystery detective series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

Once again, the MuggleNet Academia team of host Keith Hawk, managing editor for MuggleNet, and co-host John Granger, the Hogwarts Professor, brings our fans the latest in academic discussions within the Hogwarts saga.

In response to objections of Native American critics to Rowling’s failings there have been dismissals from some parts of Harry Potter fandom of these criticisms as “politically correct” and that “it’s just a story.” But Rowling has set herself up to being held to a higher standard, hasn’t she? Both in the research she did for the Hogwarts Saga and the tone and themes of those books?

• Rowling said in trailer to Fantastic Beasts that her stories are about those “set apart, stigmatized, or othered,”
• In a July 7, 2000 Entertainment Weekly interview, J.K. Rowling admits, “bigotry is probably the thing I detest most. All forms of intolerance, the whole idea of ‘that which is different from me is necessarily evil.’

Besides the size of her following, are these the kinds of comments and the hypocrisy of the Pottermore back stories the reasons fans are so surprised and disappointed? John Greene has said “Reading is always an act of empathy. It’s always an imagining of what it’s like to be someone else.” I suppose writing is, too. Has Rowling failed here in empathy, as well as research and understanding?

We’ve invited two authorities on literature and First Nations traditions to talk with us and share their reading of these chapters: Dr. Amy H. Sturgis and Allison Mills.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.