Where do we stand on Harry Potter?

[Maxperson]

When we separate racism from bigotry, we can also talk about the difference between intentional issues, and those that are unconscious, or in this case, part of a broader culture with biases. Rowling could very easily have absorbed and used the trope, without fully understanding it's origin.

"I didn't realize I was hitting you with a hammer," does not take away the bruises, or remove the responsibility to stop hitting with the hammer.

Right. I agree that it's really easy to use the trope subconsciously. My point is that it's also really easy to do it coincidentally and the subconscious has nothing to do with it. I'm not going to assume a subconscious origin without something to back it up.

I've only ever seen people assuming that it was subconscious, though. As if the other was not possible.

 

[Maxperson]

It's worth looking into how the broader trans community feels about this character. The reception has not been especially positive. The character's name is Sirona (shortened to Sir) Ryan. Sir Ryan.

I really have no first hand knowledge of the game, but the articles I looked at made it seem like there were trans characters and character options for players.

 

[Maxperson]

Literally just stumbled on this a half hour ago:


It’s a panel from an artist’s comic strip about how she’s wrestling with what AI art programs could mean for human artists. (Really, for any creative outlet, judging by the news these days.)

I’ve been an advocate of separating creations from their creators for decades. No human is flawless, and that means something you love/need/use every day- a song, a painting, a book, a movie, some architecture, an invention, etc.- has probably been created by someone with characteristics or beliefs you find reprehensible. (And the feeling may be mutual.)

There’s definitely stuff in my house I enjoy created by people who would probably have no problem turning a blind eye to skinheads beating me down. Some might have even gotten in on the fun. For those still among the living, I don’t support their current output, but I also haven’t tossed the stuff I already own.

I haven’t looked around my house to see what I’d have to get rid of if I tossed everything created by a racist or any other kind of bigot, as well as those who committed some kind of reprehensible crime. I bet if I did, I could move into a house 1/3 the size of the one I’m currently in.

So, for me, I think drawing lines about what you will and won’t support is personal. If you want to continue enjoying a problematic creator’s work, that’s your decision. But you need to be prepared for someone challenging you; for what consequences may arise.

Orson Scott Card is a new one for me. What did he do?

 

[Irlo]

Right. I agree that it's really easy to use the trope subconsciously. My point is that it's also really easy to do it coincidentally and the subconscious has nothing to do with it. I'm not going to assume a subconscious origin without something to back it up.

I've only ever seen people assuming that it was subconscious, though. As if the other was not possible.

I don’t think it matters if anti-Semitic caricatures are introduced subconsciously (due to the miasma of cultural influences we all swim in) or coincidentally. Either way, we owe more to one another than just passively not intending to do harm.

Better that we actively intend to do no harm.

 

[p_johnston]

Orson Scott Card is a new one for me. What did he do?

Orson scott card is notoriously anti-gay and an opponent of gay marriage.
In an odd parallel hes one of the other authors i refuse to support because hes still alive and has objectionable views.

 

[Vael]

Orson Scott Card is a new one for me. What did he do?

Homophobe. Wrote several articles and provides money and support to anti-queer groups. Was/Is a high profile opponent of gay marriage.

We talk about Rowling being unique, because she ties support of her work to support of her politics and she's around to do it, but Card is kinda in the same camp, and therefore is also not a creator I support even though Ender's Game was an important book for me as a young gay kid.

 

[p_johnston]

Just to throw in my 2 cents in, seperating the art from the artist can be fine but in the case of JK when you support her by buying Harry Potter stuff, when you help the popularity of her art grow you are increasing her wealth and influence. Wealth and influence she will actively use to try and hurt vulnerable people. By supporting her you are helping her to hurt people.

 

[Maxperson]

I don’t think it matters if anti-Semitic caricatures are introduced subconsciously (due to the miasma of cultural influences we all swim in) or coincidentally. Either way, we owe more to one another than just passively not intending to do harm.

Better that we actively intend to do no harm.

I think an accident is an accident. What matters more is what you do afterwards.

 

[Parmandur]

There's always the possibility the blood bit is a dig at QAnon rather than any historical conspiracy.)

Hmmmm, not disconnected, and less "historical" than one may hope:

"Nearly 4 in 5 Americans who agree with the Protocols of the Elders of Zion also believe in QAnon"

Not Every QAnon Believer's an Antisemite. But There’s a Lot of Overlap Between Its Adherents and Belief in a Century-Old Antisemitic Hoax

A new Morning Consult survey tracking right-wing authoritarian beliefs shows that while not all believers of the conspiracy theory that helped spur the insurrection are antisemites, a large majority of adherents to a century-old antisemitic hoax are also believers of QAnon.

morningconsult.com

DISCLAIMER: I am probably one of the more conservative people on this site, though still on the left of the USA political spectrum.

So am I, though I don't even register on the American spectrum anywhere (Italian or German, I'd be Center-Right).

 

[Parmandur]

Harry Potter, and the views of it's author, are problematic. D&D is also problematic.

I'm not fan of the idea that we should limit folks discussing their fandom of either D&D or Harry Potter on these boards. I certainly don't feel that doing so is a microaggression.

We can talk about what we love about Harry Potter, and what we don't love. Discussing the anti-trans views of Rowling, the anti-Semitic tropes of the books, or other issues is fair game . . . as is what we love about these stories.

D&D has some serious legacy issues about race and culture, and we've had some good discussions here on ENWorld regarding that. It's helped me decide how I want to interact with D&D going forward, and what kind of products I want to buy, and what kind of games I want to run.

Pick a fandom . . . Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones . . . anything . . . and you will find some similar problematic elements. It doesn't mean you can't still love and discuss your fandom of these properties, and discussing the issues can help us move forward in our fandom, and as a society.

D&D or Call of Cthulu have complex, nuanced histories, but they aren't subsidizing active bigotry.