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ashthehermit · 1 year

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Harry Potter & shallow worldbuilding

I probably shouldn't wade into these waters, but once again, I am demonstrating that my self-preservation instincts are poor, and that my family refuse to listen to my rants anymore. [TW: Harry Potter and all that entails].

I was a little confused when I saw the trailer for Hogwarts Legacy (source of ire for me, and many many other people). I had thought that it was supposed to be set in Victorian England, but honestly, it looked a lot like it was still set in the 1990s (or the early 2000s, the films never came down on exact dates). Perhaps this is because the movies - upon which all subsequent media has based its design - relied heavily on Victorian and early 20th century design elements. Think Hogwarts' gothic architecture; the ministry's early London Underground tiles; and the entire interior of Grimmauld Place. This wasn't in any way a bad thing. Harry Potter, as a story, made good on a sense of whimsy and old British aesthetics. The wizarding world, having no need of technology, would not modernise its aesthetics at the same rate as the non-magical world. It was a design choice that was of great consternation to my mother. We went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, she whispered to me 'why do they have wheelie suitcases? I thought this was set in the 1930s?'

It makes me wonder now, why doesn't the world in Hogwarts Legacy look much different to its predecessor? I suppose that they are wearing vaguely Victorian clothes, but shouldn't we be looking at some 1700s aesthetics, or is the wizarding world caught in a perpetual loop of Victoriana?

Truth is, the Harry Potter universe has fallen foul of the problem that irks most fantasy universes once they are analysed for too long. It isn't logically coherent. Like the history of Westeros, the history of the wizarding world repeats itself perpetually, never looking or behaving especially differently. In a series of children's books that were focused on the life of one teen, the cracks didn't show. Sure, Voldemort was in power twice, and before him there was Grindelwald (for all intents and purposes, Voldemort but European).

J.K. Rowling's world building is fine for what it was in the beginning (again, the life of one teen in Britain), or as fine as it could be. The world was not greatly expansive, but it didn't need to be. The best parts of it were whimsical and extensions of the cheerier side of Britain. There was the Knight bus, a purple routemaster. The entrance to the Ministry of Magic was inside a red phone box, one of the great symbols of British tourism. The primary setting was a boarding school. One of the most popular elements is the house system, which is just a more complicated extension of your average school house system. It is touted as a categorisation of identity, but it obeys all the rules of school houses. Siblings going into different houses is rare (to the point that it's only mentioned once) because family groups always go into the same house (unless your school just doesn't care about houses). The bigotry in the series is also British by design. It ends up being a simplified version of classism, that features more in subtext than text. This being said, there isn't a great deal of specificity in the world building. I still don't know where Hermione's home town is. I only know that her parents are dentists and they like to ski. Where does Malfoy live, apart from in a manor that has peacocks in the garden? These are the kind of flaws you notice when you have analysed the story for as long as I have.

The worldbuilding gets thinner the more expansive it gets. The students from Beauxbatons are more or less French stereotypes, Fleur especially. Durmstrang is the same, but Bulgarian. Much has already been said on Rowling's shallow naming conventions (Cho Chang, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and now Sirona Ryan). Without the crutch of something being British and vaguely quaint, the world loses all of its charm, and all of its logic.

Fantastic Beasts, for some reason, begins in 1920s New York. Most of the richness of the setting is achieved by production design rather than the script (incidentally, flashbacks set in Hogwarts still manage to look like it's the early 2000s). Conflict in the story is wrought from an American government that is more anti-muggle than the British equivalent. If it is allegorical in any way, I do not understand it. But let's not pretend Rowling's allegory has ever been any good. Claims that Lupin's lycanthropy was a metaphor for HIV and AIDs only serve to lessen the character. At best, it's an allegory for general prejudice. The assertion that Lupin, at the age of six, was attacked by Greyback with the express intention of passing on AIDs, is well, it's dicey. Rowling might have intended to create an allegory for stigma around 'blood-borne conditions', but failed to consider the extra baggage that that allegory might entail.

The same is true for Fantastic Beasts, where the nonsense is turned up to twenty. There's a group of muggles who somehow know about the existence of magic. They name themselves after Salem, despite the Salem witch trials being appropriate for neither this setting nor this geographic region. Any commentary on the nature of the Salem witch trials is hardly a commentary on the nature of America at large, but rather a commentary on a single Puritan colony. Rowling takes pieces of Native American culture for her lore, with no understanding of the cultural legacy at play.

It gets even weirder in the sequels, which zip through countries so fast there's barely any time for worldbuilding. There's a circus! Why! I don't know.

For no reason at all, there's a deer that chooses the outcome of an election. In a baffling moment, Grindelwald (as played by font of virtue, Johnny Depp) tells a group of wizards that they have to kill muggles because they are going to start a world war. He is wizarding Hitler, and that isn't a subtle analogy. In that same scene, Queenie Goldstein, a character heavily coded as Jewish, joins wizard Hitler because he promises her that she will be able to marry her muggle beau. The man that just gave a speech about killing muggles, is apparently all for marriage equality! By all means, it doesn't make any sense. It’s far from being respectful either.

There are of course attempts to make the wizarding world more diverse in Fantastic Beasts, but without any attempt to make these characters more genuine. There's an Asian woman, but she's Voldemort's snake and she's going to be beheaded by Neville in a few decades. The second film has Zoe Kravitz! Yay! But she's part of a needlessly convoluted tale in which a powerful white man hypnotises a black woman to be his wife, and then she dies? I don't know what to make of that. It's not good representation, and by gum it isn't good storytelling! The Fantastic Beasts trilogy has all the perspective of Emily in Paris.

Hogwarts Legacy can hardly improve upon this worldbuilding, because it comes from an unstable foundation. I might have been more understanding had the game been set in say, not Hogwarts, or even a Hogwarts that was fundamentally different from the Hogwarts that we already know. The worldbuilding remains as shallow as it ever was, and with all the bigotry retained. Of course, the main story is based on a piece of anti-semitic folklore, expanded upon in the books, and even more so in the game. The problem being that Hogwarts Legacy can only make sales based on nostalgia. It can't be that different from the world of the novels, because no one is bold enough to alter the world and alienate people who want nothing more than to experience their childhoods all over again. As such, the shallow worldbuilding is laid bare over and over again, to the point that it is no longer a setting in service of a series of novels. It now has to be a real, coherent world, which it fails at. We have to examine the nature of Hogwarts houses, and the mechanics of time turners (thank you Cursed Child), and the reasons why house elves don't want their freedom.

They'll never get freedom anyhow, because Hermione's attempts at activism are used for comedy. The world at the end of Deathly Hallows is not greatly different to the world at the beginning. Voldemort is dead, but we are not assured of any big changes. The world returns to what it was. For all that The Legend of Korra may not have lived up to its predecessor, it made an effective attempt at showing that the world had been altered by the actions of our heroes. In the Cursed Child, nothing is different. The story spends all of its time looking to the past and imagining increasingly unlikely alternate timelines (Cedric turns evil? Ron marries Padma Patil?). Hogwarts Legacy does not set up the world of Harry Potter, nor does it fundamentally alter it. The status quo is preserved. Like Westeros, it cannot change. The new game does nothing with the world, and acts in its detriment. Anyhow, it’s not a good work of fantasy. J.K. Rowling loves the status quo. That much is evident. Don’t buy this game! Support trans people instead.

#hogwarts legacy #harry potter #jkrowling #fantastic beasts #cursed child #rant #I've no idea why you can use unforgiveable curses in it also #what was the goal #make it grimdark?#it's still a kids book lads #it ain't skyrim #can't believe i'm inadvertently praising skyrim #transphobia #I know people get tired of activism #but you should also know that it's just bad storytelling #the problems were there early on #and they just got more evident when there were stories set outside of the OG series #the people behind this franchise really want to lean into diversity as a promo #but they can only do it in this really shallow way #that reinforces the Cho Chang of it all #and emphasises how the MC of all of the works (barring game for obvious reasons) has been a white male in a similar vein #it's somewhat repetitive the kids might say #but good lord fantastic beasts was bad #so I can't believe the game is any good #and it sure doesn't have anything interesting to say about victorian england #antisemitism

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potterhead-ro-mione · 2 years

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“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.”

#ron weasley #romione #hermione granger #harry potter #jk rowling #ronmione #bffgoals #couple goals #bffs4life #jkrowling

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let-the-torch-bearer-lead · 10 days

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A Need to Scream into the Void

I have a mighty need... to rant, specifically into the void of a blog that no one will probably ever read or acknowledge. Why are the creators of the things I love so fucking hell bent on destroying their works? What good does that serve to alienate your fans?

Let's kick this off with one super fucking transphobic bitch that created something wonderful and then tainted it with her stupid anti-trans women rhetoric. I tried to tell myself at first that people misunderstood what she said and meant, because at first that is what it seemed like.

Then, she started doubling down. I'm sorry transwomen are women. Yes, their biology is slightly different but I'm more afraid of a biological woman than I have ever been of one that was born in the wrong skin. I'm more worried for their safety. I'm more worried about their mental health.

WHY? Well, I don't know maybe the fact that they had to grow up enduring all that anguish of feeling wrong. Not to mention, Ms. Transphobic Bitch, I was also in a highly physically abusive relationship with a man. He was emotionally, physically, financially and sexually abusive. He handed me a gun and told me to kill myself in front of our infant daughter. So, how is it that I can separate that man from trans women and you can't. Well, that's because at your core, I've realized you are not as loving and caring as you claim to be. PS, women can be just as fucking abusive, you fucking twat.

Those kids that were in your movies don't owe you shit and I love that so many people took away a more accepting attitude from your work than what you wanted. Lady, you're trash and I feel sorry for you that you don't see that. However, I think it's mighty hilarious that you think that any of those kids give you much thought as they continue their careers, grow as people, and are starting their own families. They don't care what you have to say and neither do most of your original fanbase.

It's ok, have fun with the other transphobes. I'm out. I have too many trans people in my life, starting with my trans daughter. She means more to me than your entire existence. I will say, I don't wish ill for you or anyone. I wish you love and the power to learn and get past your ignorance. Also, for those that still cherish that the world she created. I get it. I won't hate you or bash you. Fuck, it got me through my abusive relationship. It gave me hope. To me, that world was better than my reality. It made me feel safe and accepted as an outcast. Just remember to take the positive things and rise above the hate for silly things that "God's" coding chose for someone.

#rant #jkrowling #transrights #transphobes #lgbtq community #screaming

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take-care-with-your-glasses · 1 year

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Snape and his two sides

#random #wip #harry potter #severus snape #jkrowling #digital art #xppenartist #clip studio

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carlocarrasco · 2 months

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Go woke, go broke.

youtube

Should the woke mob just get away with uncontrolled rage and push others to conform to their ways?

#JKRowling #entertainment #geek #society #reality #woke #wokeness #LGBT #lgbtq #rage #Leftist #Communist #transgender #diversity #socialist #Marxist #liberal #inclusion #Youtube

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mzminola · 1 year

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Looking back at the boycotts of Ender’s Game and Twilight during Prop 8, I think the current attitude of “if you participate in even the non-commercial aspects of Harry Potter fandom, you are just as bad as the people giving money to Rowling” is part of the rise in purity culture in fandom over the last decade.

Orson Scott Card gave money directly to the 2008 campaign to ban same-legal-sex marriage in California, despite not being a resident and thus acting against his own self-proclaimed respect for state’s rights, because his homophobia was stronger than his principles.

I don’t remember if Stephenie Meyer gave money directly, but the Mormon church was openly donating and campaigning for it, and she was known at the time to tithe.

So we all said, don’t buy their books, don’t buy tickets to the movies, don’t buy the merch, don’t give those authors money.

While there might have been some pockets of “don’t engage with their works at all!” generally fandom was still considered fine to keep trucking along in. Sure, draw art. Write fic. Make rec lists, character playlists, cosplay. Have your fun, just don’t give the authors any money, be it through direct book sales or through associated royalties.

Now, though? With J.K.Rowling openly giving money to groups harming trans people, openly speaking out against trans rights, we’re once again calling for boycotts...

And the fandom is tearing itself apart, with people insisting any engagement whatsoever hurts trans people. That talking neutrally or positively about the series online, or posting fic, or art, or cosplay, or other fan crafts, is the same as personally acting as a marketing department for Rowling, and therefore is going to get other people to buy works or merch from the franchise.

Or that having HP related graphics or text on your blog, or wearing old merch or cosplay or self-made accessories where other people can see you, is openly signaling to trans people that you don’t care about them. Or even that you are actively against their rights.

This...was not a thing during Prop 8. Fandom was not saying “your Livejournal icon with an Ender’s Game quote is going to funnel money to a hate campaign.” We were not saying “cosplaying Twilight characters signals to all the queer fans that you believe they shouldn’t have the right to marry.”

For good or for ill, fandom has drastically changed.

#I'm not going to talk about any of these franchises' antisemitism in the body of the post #because I am trying to be concise #and because I rarely see fandom at large talking about it the way they're talking about the queer issues #might make another post about it at some point #JKRowling #fandom #purity culture #Orson Scott Card #Stephenie Meyer #Prop 8 #transphobia #queerphobia #marriage equality #HP tag

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cannibalcoyote · 1 year

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Severus Snape: Siblings

Imagine Severus Snape is your brother, and you defend him:

Severus and I had just arrived on the platform, meekly dressed in our second-hand robes. We were clutching the worn handles to our suitcases tightly, due to how last year some students thought it funny to steal them away from us, almost resulting in us missing the train.

As we pushed through the crowd I softly grabbed onto my brother's cloak, allowing him to swiftly guide us through the crowded platform and up the stairs to the train. The loud noises scared me, I never have done well in crowds, but Severus ushers me forwards quickly to aid in my escape.

He opens a door for me and I eagerly enter it, he closes the door to our carriage, effectively cutting out the noisy crowd. I release a sigh of relief, shutting my eyes in content at the slightly quieter environment.

"Are you okay Y/N?" My brother's voice breaks my solitude. I open my eyes to see him looking at me in concern, he hasn't seen me react like that to a crowd in quite a while.

"I'm fine Sev, I haven't been in a crowd that big since last school year. I just need a little time to get used to it again." I smile reassuringly at his remaining look of concern. He slowly leans back and nods in acceptance of my answer, though I know he doesn't believe me.

As the train starts moving, Severus takes out one of his school books and begins reading whilst I stare out the window in a haze.

I think about school, how it'll be in my new classes, if I'll make any friends. I have trouble making friends because I tend to be too shy or too blunt when meeting new people, they are either mean to me, or stay away from me because they think I am strange. My only friends so far are Lily Evans, and Lucius Malfoy.

I know being friends with Lucius sounds a little strange, but I am actually quite fond of him, he is like an older brother to Sev and me. I remember one time when he saw us carrying books with covers that were stained and ripped, with missing pages with others scribbled on.

The next morning we woke up to find brand new textbooks with hardcovers, the pages were so white I was afraid to touch them. He never said anything about it other than when I thanked him for them and offered to pay him back, but he simply waved me off and said that they were gifts. That was the day I knew Lucius Malfoy was a brother to me.

———————

After the feast ends, we all head back to our common rooms, Sev and I were talking before he went off to join Lucius and some others. Lucius always welcomed me into their group, but I know what they speak of, and I sadly refuse to be privy to such information. I simply walk through the corridors at the back of the group, daydreaming the whole way until I slip into my room and fall asleep.

———————

Classes were dragging on today, not only did someone fuck up there spell and send me to the hospital wing, but I also got whacked by a bludger in our quidditch practice. Of course, our captain only cared that I was too slow to dodge the bludger, and refused to let me go back to the hospital wing. He even threatened to kick me off the team if I left practice early. Needless to say, I am in a lot of pain.

My feet or drudging through the grass, my hair ruffled from practice and my ribs burning with every breath. I am about to turn towards the castle when I hear shouting and laughter. That may sound like a normal thing to hear, but the shouting sounds defensive, and the laughter sounds obnoxious. I turn my head in its direction curiously before deciding to take a detour from the hospital wing.

As I reach the sounds, I am shocked to see some acquaintances of mine bullying my brother! I can feel the anger stirring in my chest, it feels like it's going to sear straight through my sternum.

My brows furrowed in aggression as I marched over to the group, or as they call themselves, the Marauders. They can see me coming, and two quickly shift their attention to me while one continues to bully my brother.

I snatch my wand out of my cloak pocket and aggressively point it at the two boys facing me.

"Just what do you think you're doing!?" My voice is sharp, I would almost say my vocal chords hurt with how low my voice went when I growled that sentence, but all my attention was on defending Severus.

They both point their wands at me, one smirking, while the other looks away guiltily.

"Easy now Y/N. We're just having some fun with Snivillus." I hear the arrogant one smirk, I think his name is Black.

I'm about to respond when I hear Sev yell in pain, Potter had sent a curse at him, my vision almost turns red when I see some blood tickle down his face.

"Incarcerous!" I yell out, my wand waving sharply, the spell shooting from my wand at an almost ungodly speed. The spell caught them off guard, neither able to counter it as the ropes tightly wrapped around both their bodies. One still has their arm free, and is about to shout a spell back, but I say one quicker.

"Expelliarmus!" His wand goes flying through the air, landing swiftly into my open hand. The last remaining boy realizes his friends are incapacitated and shifts his attention from my brother to me. As I see his face, the rage bubbles even more within me, it was James Potter, my best friend's annoying crush. I don't know whether to kill him for hurting Sev or to kill Lily for liking this dickhead.

He shouts a spell at me, which I gracefully block, taking a moment to look at the irritated glint in his eyes before sending a barrage his way.

"Expelliarmus! Confundo! Immobulus! Impedimenta! Levicorpus!" If you can name it, I shouted it. James was frustratingly good at blocking, but I never gave him a moment to respond. We continued like this for a few moments before I sent a spell I knew he couldn't block.

"Sectumsempra!" All my frustration left me as I heard the gratifying yelp of pain from him as he flew backwards and to the floor. I walk past Lupin and Black, stopping momentarily to kneel by Potter. The blood was soaking through his clothes, I almost felt bad, but then I remembered what he was doing.

His eyes glisten with tears of pain as he makes eye contact, all I can do is smirk in satisfaction. Knowing I was the cause of his suffering, knowing I brought one of the great marauders down from their pedestal all the way to rock bottom.

I stand up and back away before turning to face Sev, his face is one of surprise and shock.

"I know I know, you told me not to look through your spell books, but you always create the most interesting spe-" A tight hug interrupts my apology.

"Thank you."

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