Courtnee Johns

March 31, 2017

Dr. Powers

Journal 6

Book Banning Alive Today

In “Harry and Hierarchy: Book Banning as a Reaction to the Subversion of Authority,” Rebecca Stephens writes about the many controversies over the Harry Potter series, and the apparent belief systems behind those controversies. The article, written when only four books in the series were published, is still relevant today, as some (mostly American) groups are still trying today to get these books banned from public and school libraries.

Stephens mentions early on that banning the Harry Potter series is an American phenomenon. She quotes London’s Evening Standard to explain that in the United Kingdom, where the books were first published, the mere popularity among young readers is enough to banish any thoughts of banning the books (Stephens, 51). This seems to suggest that citizens of the United Kingdome are more concerned with literacy and promoting young readers and are also seemingly more trustworthy of children, believing that they can realize on their own not to take witchcraft seriously (Stephens, 52).

Among the many reasons for banning the Potter novels are the fears that children will get the wrong ideas about witchcraft (such as that witchcraft is fun and is something to be desired) and ideas that the books are “too violent, present ‘occult activities’ as fun, are anti-Bible, depict sorcery and magic, and open the door to ‘spiritual bondage’” (52). While this article was written when four books were published (the fourth being published in 2000), these ideologies are still present nearly seventeen years later. This cultural singularity is evidenced in a poll that was released on www.debate.org in 2015, and still is receiving votes and comments today. The poll which asks, “Should the Harry Potter series be banned from schools” received an answer of “yes” from eleven percent of its online voters. While eleven percent is not a relatively high percentage, it does exemplify that there are still people today who are reluctant or extremely opposed to letting their children have access to these novels, despite the undeniable popularity of the books and the films. In addition to this poll, there are also a few web sites dedicated to spreading information about the Rowling novels and advocating for the banning of the books.

Book burning certainly seems to be a facet of our history, and is something many people may consider obsolete. Because of their immense popularity, it is truly difficult to imagine that the Harry Potter books are still targeted for banning. Similarly, considering the American standards of being “open-minded,” it is difficult to imagine any books are still being banned. However, because of deeply-rooted religious beliefs, and fears of children becoming wiccans or being sensitive to wiccan beliefs, or for various other reasons, book banning is still alive and well today.

(I am aware that I need to add proper citations for the web sites and I also need to increase the word count)

In Janice Liedl’s article “Witches vs. Women: What Muggles Could Learn from Wizarding History,” she talks about the differences between how women’s roles have changed throughout history in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. She talks about how the wizarding world was far ahead of the Muggle world in terms of gender equality since “from the earliest histories of the wizarding world, we learn of powerful witches who played an important role in their society, schools, and government” (Liedl, 246).

I thought it was interesting how J. K. Rowling decided to make sexism a nonissue in the wizarding world. Instead of outright saying that they didn’t have sexism as a problem like in the Muggle world she shows us by having strong and powerful women not just in the Harry Potter books but all throughout magical history. Long before Muggle women were even allowed to vote or own their own property “Artemisia Lufkin took the highest office in the wizarding world as Minister for Magic” (Liedl, 249). In not having strong women being an issue in the wizarding world, J. K. Rowling helps normalize strong women. Normalizing the idea of having strong women is a good step toward having more gender equality in our society

One of the strongest female characters we meet in the Harry Potter universe is Molly Weasley. Even though she meets the stereotypes of a woman by being a full-time mother with a lot of kids there is so much more to her than that. All at the same time she is a full-time mother she was also an active member of the Order of the Phoenix both times Voldemort was in power. She also showed her true power when she killed Bellatrix defending her children “’you – will – never – touch – our – children – again!’ screamed Mrs. Weasley…. Molly’s curse soared beneath Bellatrix’s outstretched arm and hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart… and then she toppled….” (OOTH, 736, 737). Molly had the power and skill not only to fight Bellatrix, another powerful witch, but also to kill her.

No world is perfect, however. Despite the fact that the wizarding world seems to be free of sexism it “was an environment where magical ability, not gender, determined members’ choices and status” (Liedl, 246).  Since the wizarding world is this magical place that one would think it would be perfect and free of all inequality it is not without issue. One could argue that since the wizarding world has people in it is bound to be flawed since people are flawed. There will always be those people who want more, don’t agree with the way things are and want to change it, for better or worse.

So instead of having sexism be the central issue in the wizarding world we get blood purity as the main societal issue. This is an idea we are introduced to very early in the books before we even get to Hogwarts when Draco Malfoy is talking about Muggle-borns in Madam Malkin’s “’I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just no the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families.’” (SS, 78). Before Harry is introduced to the idea of someone who is Muggle-born he encounters someone is bashing on them. Luckily, Harry knows that he doesn’t like Malfoy right away and doesn’t become friends with him.

The wizarding world seems to be filled with women in power so sexism pretty clearly isn’t an issue. Despite that fact, it isn’t without issue. No society is perfect and Harry Potter’s wizarding world is no different. The wizarding world is plagued with the issue on blood purity that is something we are introduced to almost immediately as we enter into the wizarding world with Harry for the first time.

The article, The Chemical Wizardry of J.K. Rowling, was written about the chemistry and how each trick in the movies and books were used from a scientific side.. The author, Jane Snell Copes, is a chemist and wanted to crack the magic. In her article there are different tricks that were used and Copes was able to give an explanation. For some people, the ones who need answers, this article will help answer any questions. However, if you are a person who likes to leave the magic, this is not the article for you. The entire article is focused on how to understand the underlying chemicals used.

As the article went on it described each different trick. Which is nice for those who love special affects and want to know more about it. Copes stated “This is a where to find the necessary safety information, complete directions, disposal information, and explations of a selection of magical effects.” This allows the Muggles to produce magic, however, it takes the magic away from those audience who want to keep it there. There are children, teens, and young adults who have the belief magic still in their hearts. This article attains to all types of audiences because it has answers. It is able to grab the audience’s attention and attach them. It also gives another inside look on how Harry Potter was produced.

For Muggles, who wants to be a Wizard (but can’t), is able to also produce the magic. Smuggles struggle with not having magic, and their wants of magic. This article goes through each trick and explains even how Harry’s Wand produces magic. Codes stated that the sparks coming out of the wand were simple “firework sparklers to resemble a Fas-acting, one shot magic wand.” For those Muggles who have a wand, they are now able to produce the same sparks, just like the movies did.

The one problem Smuggles are going to face is that the chemicals Code is saying to use are not accessible to the public. Chemists are the only ones who have access to the chemicals, because some are harmful to the Muggles. There are some chemicals available and are easy to purchase.

Another problem Muggles are facing is a lot of potions being used in the article were taught through a Wizarding professor. Codes said, “Potions experiments often have dangerous outcomes.” Which is harmful to a Wizard/Witch, but especially harmful to Smuggles because they have no experience in the field of potion making.

The article gives another outlook on magic used in the Harry Potter series. It gave the Muggles (audience) answers and step on how to create it. It also took away magic from Muggles who wanted to keep the magic there. Lastly, it can be harmful to Muggles, because, many of the chemicals used are harmful without experience and prior knowledge.

Journal 6 – Heroes

By: Cassidy LeDonne

            Without heroes, children and adults wouldn’t be able to determine the difference between good vs. evil, light vs. dark, or Harry Potter vs. Voldemort.  Heroes give people a purpose to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  They allow people to see that heroes can make mistakes too, and even rise greater from them.  Heroes give children a story of how life can be difficult and an understanding that when life doesn’t go your way, there is always a better day ahead and hope.  Heroes give adults a way to understand life’s obstacles.  Through Sharon Black’s article: “The Magic of Harry Potter: Symbols and Heroes of Fantasy”, readers get a glimpse of two totally different people who have both come to the realization that heroes aren’t just fictional characters but are courageous, brave and give people a better understanding of life.

Children read about heroes in a completely different light than adults do.  Adults and children have the same general outlook on heroes, however when reading about heroes, children use their imagination.  In Black’s article, she talks about a little girl named Kallie who loves reading Harry Potter and exploring his world and comparing it to her own.  Through Harry Potter’s life, she’s able to witness how hardships can turn into something magical.  Children use their imagination while reading about heroes to experience their own reality.  As Black states, “The ever-changing magic of Harry Potter is in the magic of the child’s own experiences, feelings, and imagination”.  Children have the ability to use their imagination while they read in a completely different way than adults.  Maybe the lack of experiences that children have compared to adults could be the culprit.  Children haven’t experienced the hardships of life (at least just yet).  They haven’t experienced “life lows”.  However, heroes like Harry Potter, give children that small experience to understand that even heroes, like Harry, can have a hard life but then one day, it gets better.  Through the journey of heroes, like Harry Potter, children can relate and express their feelings in similar ways.  Children are able to experience their fears, their sorrows and their happiness through these such journeys.  As Black states “The child may find it easier to face these fears when the abstract feelings are given form by Harry’s experience”.  Though children haven’t experienced the life “lows” or even the life “highs”, they gain experience through reading about heroes such as Harry Potter.

Adults read about heroes, like Harry Potter, in a different way than children do.  Even though adults use their imagination, as well, to try to visualize Harry’s journey, they don’t necessary use their imagination to visualize Harry’s full experiences in their own life.  Instead, they read about some of Harry’s mistakes or “lows” in life and watch how he breaks out of them.  Through heroes such as Harry Potter, adults can understand that life may get hard but it won’t always stay that hard.  Black talks about her daughter, Sandra, who is a young adult, and how she viewed and looked up to heroes.   Black states “As we talk about our heroes, Sandra explains that she needs Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, and Harry Potter because she needs to believe and to share her belief that the hero can emerge victorious, no matter how oppressive the uncharted darkness may be”.  Adults need heroes too.  Just like children, adults need someone to look up too.  The need someone to relate too.  They need a hero to show them that life can and will get hard, but it won’t stay hard.   In fact, it will get easier and will get better.  Heroes show adults and children that life has all these twists and turns but it also has moments that are great and are amazing.  Heroes give people hope.