This week in class, we spoke a great amount about NEA defunding and the censorship within the art world. This, in addition to having to find something to bring into class, got me thinking about Harry Potter and how it has been censored and even banned in places all across the world. Before I get into the main points, I need to come out and say that I’m a HUGE Harry Potter fan and some of my arguments may be swayed. In class on Thursday, I mentioned that the Harry Potter series is currently the most banned series or collection of books in the entire world. Additionally, years 1-4 are the seventh most banned collection of books. The same books are within the top ten banned books across the globe! This, to me, is mind boggling.
At first, the books were well received by many stating that
the series would become classics for everyone to read for years and years to
come. However, everything changed with the release of the fifth year, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Not only did critics attack J. K. Rowling for her style of writing but they
also attacked the entire concept that was truly beginning to emerge. This was
seen as a darker and more violent Harry
Potter which multiple deaths and betrayals. One critic who comes from a fundamentalist
American Christian group “contends that the books promote witchcraft, Satanism,
and anti-family themes. They also claim that the movies ‘subconsciously market
a new belief system on the viewing public.’” (You can view this article here.) This breaks down to the idea that
having a witch or magic or a class entitled “Defense Against the Dark Arts”
automatically makes the reader influenced by the Devil. The main ideologies
that are attributed to devil worshiping are thus attached to the readers.
Additionally, in places such as Queensland, Australia began
to censor and ban the series because they were violent and dangerous to the
readers who happen to be small children. In New Mexico, anti-Harry Potterists
(my own creation there) challenged the books because they encouraged children
to lie, cheat, steal, and even injury others. The reasons go on and on about
why Harry Potter should not be read
and how it should be considered dangerous.
However, what these people tend to forget are the real
messages behind the most popular series of all time. For instance, Harry Potter teaches young girls that
they can do whatever they want in a world that often idolizes males and puts females
into a lower category. With the character Hermione, young female readers are
able to see what women are capable of. Hermione is known as being the wisest
witch of her time- smarter than every male. She is also seen as one of the bravest,
most supportive, most powerful, and even an independent young lady. She is not
the stereotypical girl that is often seen in other popular novels. She is not a
fainting virgin that always needs someone else to help her out of a situation.
It is quite the opposite actually. Hermione often comes to the rescue of both
Harry and Ron throughout there years together at Hogwarts. Rowling is showing
young women that they can be like Hermione too, even when others try to get in
your way and tell you that you are not good enough- women have the same
capabilities as men and thus are just as good, if not better.
Also forgotten by anit-Harry Potterists, is the pleasure of
reading Harry Potter gives to
children who may be outcasts or think of themselves as less. Hogwarts is a
place to escape to for all readers but it is these types of readers who get the
most out of the school of witchcraft and wizardry. All principal characters are
in one way or another considered outcasts by the general public, are teased,
and are belittled at some point in the series. This creates a reliability for readers
who have experienced the same feelings and have felt like they don’t belong.
Rowling is showing that outcasts or those who are seen as different do not have
to be little but instead can rise above the rest and become the hero at the end
of the day.
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