I always read the Wizarding attitude to Muggles as being a direct commentary on class rather than an indirect one on race. Specifically, the English Public (ie private) School attitude to everyone outside that world.
"Muggle-raised" Harry is the talented outsider kid who got there on a scholarship, looked down upon because he doesn't really belong.
This is so very insightful. While I do admit that I'm only nineteen and thus don't pretend to have educated or informed opinions on everything, but I've been very frustrated with the new series nonetheless on a surface level, as a huge Potterhead who unashamedly also writes reams of fanfiction. Before reading this essay, all I'd seen with the Snape issue was the way that James would eventually be portrayed, out of necessity by the context, as bigoted. I didn't see the deeper themes you pointed out! I've also found issue with the casting of the student body as a whole; especially having watched "Am I Racist" a few years ago, I've definitely noticed the prioritization of inclusion over accuracy. It's hard to feel "allowed" to comment, knowing that many would say it's just my "whiteness" speaking, but the diversity shown in the TV series just wasn't there in the UK in the 90s! (There's my little rant, unnecessary but provoked by this amazing piece. Very much enjoyed and will think on this more.)
I had no idea a new Pens & Poison piece was coming out today but then I remembered you did mention new essays would be coming weekly, Liza and what a treat this one is! You absolutely nailed it with what’s wrong with this God awful Harry Potter series! Hollywood used to be a hit film making factory now they are a shell of their former selves. The new HBO Harry Potter series is Exhibit A as to why. They mess up all the characters and get them completely wrong, miscast several roles, get the tone wrong, and replace universals with particulars to push partisan political and identity politics messages.
None of these people have clearly read a Harry Potter book or watched a Harry Potter movie in their lives. They have no idea why the original series was such a massive hit. Not because it was some nihilistic, cynical garbage that preached at us about about abortion, immigration, gun control, racism, or homophobia. That’s for darn sure! It was a whimsical fun story about three Wizard kids who went on an adventure, fought evil and learned about life. It had timeless themes we all can relate to and understand. Like good vs. evil, the hunger for power, greed, the death of a parent, child abuse, bullying, friendship, growing up, trusting in yourself, self-doubt, love, being yourself no matter what anyone thinks, standing up to hate, fighting for a cause bigger than one’s self, authoritarianism, being courageous, doing the right thing despite it not being easy, death and grief, and many more.
None of that is here at all. A black Snape is also nonsense. First off, the character in the book is white, respect the source material! Second, anti-black racism has nothing to do with the Harry Potter story and shouldn’t be inserted into it. We don’t need BLM race grifting in Harry Potter. Lastly, that’s just NOT how you do representation! None of us have a problem with black, Latino, Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander, female, LGBTQ+, or disabled characters in movies and TV shows but it must be organic, they must be well-written characters and their identity can’t be all there is to their character.
Arabella did a LOVELY job as Hermione in the full-cast audio books, for what that's worth. She does Hermione's voice-acting in the first three FCA productions.
I always read the Wizarding attitude to Muggles as being a direct commentary on class rather than an indirect one on race. Specifically, the English Public (ie private) School attitude to everyone outside that world.
"Muggle-raised" Harry is the talented outsider kid who got there on a scholarship, looked down upon because he doesn't really belong.
This is so very insightful. While I do admit that I'm only nineteen and thus don't pretend to have educated or informed opinions on everything, but I've been very frustrated with the new series nonetheless on a surface level, as a huge Potterhead who unashamedly also writes reams of fanfiction. Before reading this essay, all I'd seen with the Snape issue was the way that James would eventually be portrayed, out of necessity by the context, as bigoted. I didn't see the deeper themes you pointed out! I've also found issue with the casting of the student body as a whole; especially having watched "Am I Racist" a few years ago, I've definitely noticed the prioritization of inclusion over accuracy. It's hard to feel "allowed" to comment, knowing that many would say it's just my "whiteness" speaking, but the diversity shown in the TV series just wasn't there in the UK in the 90s! (There's my little rant, unnecessary but provoked by this amazing piece. Very much enjoyed and will think on this more.)
Why must these people ruin everything???
I had no idea a new Pens & Poison piece was coming out today but then I remembered you did mention new essays would be coming weekly, Liza and what a treat this one is! You absolutely nailed it with what’s wrong with this God awful Harry Potter series! Hollywood used to be a hit film making factory now they are a shell of their former selves. The new HBO Harry Potter series is Exhibit A as to why. They mess up all the characters and get them completely wrong, miscast several roles, get the tone wrong, and replace universals with particulars to push partisan political and identity politics messages.
None of these people have clearly read a Harry Potter book or watched a Harry Potter movie in their lives. They have no idea why the original series was such a massive hit. Not because it was some nihilistic, cynical garbage that preached at us about about abortion, immigration, gun control, racism, or homophobia. That’s for darn sure! It was a whimsical fun story about three Wizard kids who went on an adventure, fought evil and learned about life. It had timeless themes we all can relate to and understand. Like good vs. evil, the hunger for power, greed, the death of a parent, child abuse, bullying, friendship, growing up, trusting in yourself, self-doubt, love, being yourself no matter what anyone thinks, standing up to hate, fighting for a cause bigger than one’s self, authoritarianism, being courageous, doing the right thing despite it not being easy, death and grief, and many more.
None of that is here at all. A black Snape is also nonsense. First off, the character in the book is white, respect the source material! Second, anti-black racism has nothing to do with the Harry Potter story and shouldn’t be inserted into it. We don’t need BLM race grifting in Harry Potter. Lastly, that’s just NOT how you do representation! None of us have a problem with black, Latino, Asian, Native American, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander, female, LGBTQ+, or disabled characters in movies and TV shows but it must be organic, they must be well-written characters and their identity can’t be all there is to their character.
Arabella did a LOVELY job as Hermione in the full-cast audio books, for what that's worth. She does Hermione's voice-acting in the first three FCA productions.