JK Rowling TERFing her legacy into the bin

[JaDanketies]

Deary's books, however, focus only on what is scandalous and ugly in history; disconnect the "story" in "history" by using a magazine-like structure; encourage us to look down on people from the past as dirty, psychopathic or stupid. If this is "left" then count me out.

I feel like they focus on the story of the proles and what it was like to be a normal person back then, and there's a constant theme of powerful people exploiting poor people (like psychopaths). He explicitly calls himself anti-establishment.

"I don't want to write history," he says, firmly. "I'm not a historian, and I wouldn't want to be. I want to change the world. Attack the elite. Overturn the hierarchy. Look at my stories and you'll notice that the villains are always, always, those in power. The heroes are the little people. I hate the establishment. Always have, always will."

[idunnosomename]

I suppose very heavy cynicism characterises the Horrible History books. The British Empire is odious, but so is the Aztec Empire. Problem is I'm not sure such constant cynicism about everything that's ever happened is really that healthy. and he offers no solutions.

But can't say that about Rowling can you. Potter is entirely born of Blairite platitudes.

[Paul Calf]

I feel like they focus on the story of the proles and what it was like to be a normal person back then, and there's a constant theme of powerful people exploiting poor people (like psychopaths). He explicitly calls himself anti-establishment.

"I don't want to write history," he says, firmly. "I'm not a historian, and I wouldn't want to be. I want to change the world. Attack the elite. Overturn the hierarchy. Look at my stories and you'll notice that the villains are always, always, those in power. The heroes are the little people. I hate the establishment. Always have, always will."

He's not left wing. He hates the commons, redistibution, institutions that benefit the poor at the (slight) expense of the rich or weaken the principle of the sanctity of private property. He's a libertarian pretending to be a socialist, and not pretending very well.

[Perplexicon]

There's a really weird bit in the Wicked Words book where he goes off on one for a bit about Darwin being wrong about evolution. There's even a little drawing of 'Darwin talking out of his hat'. It struck me as a very odd thing when I was, what, 10 or whenever I was reading the Horrible History series.

[idunnosomename]

well Darwin wasn't completely correct but he put a helluva lot of work in and in its basic principles his theory is pretty sound basework for subsequent integration with genetics. it seems to me like the overly cynical reading of everything being a detriment to his books

[TrenterPercenter]

There's a really weird bit in the Wicked Words book where he goes off on one for a bit about Darwin being wrong about evolution. There's even a little drawing of 'Darwin talking out of his hat'. It struck me as a very odd thing when I was, what, 10 or whenever I was reading the Horrible History series.

What does he say Darwin got wrong?  He was a bit off the mark regarding inheritance though elements of what he thought do exist can't think of much else....

[Retinend]

But can't say that about Rowling can you. Potter is entirely born of Blairite platitudes.

Blairite? Can you explain? If I had to pigeon-hole it politically, Harry Potter seems like a series about a grammar school kid who was destined to ascend, and sort of "meritocratic" in that sense. Is that a blairite notion? but surely much older?

[Perplexicon]

What does he say Darwin got wrong?  He was a bit off the mark regarding inheritance though elements of what he thought do exist can't think of much else....

The whole concept of Evolution, presumably! It was still a bit of a hot topic in the 90s wasn't it, The """""Theory"""""" of Evolution. That's the vibe I got in the context of the time of reading it, a bit like an opinionated aunt telling you that climate change isn't real.

[JaDanketies]

He did The Savage Stone Age that talked about Australopithecus and Homo Erectus and the like. I can't imagine he denies the theory of evolution.

[idunnosomename]

Blairite? Can you explain? If I had to pigeon-hole it politically, Harry Potter seems like a series about a grammar school kid who was destined to ascend, and sort of "meritocratic" in that sense. Is that a blairite notion? but surely much older?

its more the continued system of hereditary power and a system of a bland meritocracy covered with a lazy and cynical veneer of diversity and inclusivity. Have a google for harry potter tony blair for some more thought out arguments

[Consignia]

Blairite? Can you explain? If I had to pigeon-hole it politically, Harry Potter seems like a series about a grammar school kid who was destined to ascend, and sort of "meritocratic" in that sense. Is that a blairite notion? but surely much older?

I don't know myself, but if I can quote something from earlier in the thread which I spotted in Twitter:

Just spotted this on Twitter, never read or seen anything Harry Potter related. Is it a fair assessment?



All I know is, I love the image of a drug addled Daniel Radcliffe, trying to feed his habit.

[Retinend]

I did what IDSN suggested and I found that Tony Blair is an in-universe character: https://potter-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Tony_Blair

Biography
Early career
Blair had been trying for a very long time indeed before he finally won the election campaign[2]. On the very night of his winning, as he stood savouring his triumph in the recent elections, he was introduced to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic at the time[2]. Fudge explained about the secretive wizard wizarding world, turned a teacup into a gerbil and then assured him that it was extremely unlikely they would meet again[2].

Later career
Blair then had a great number of people try to take down the enchanted portrait that announced the arrival of the newcoming Minister, but being unable to do so, he simply settled for pretending it wasn't real[2]. Blair gave the gerbil to his niece and henceforth proceeded as though Fudge had merely been a delusion caused by the stress of the election[2].

It was thus to his disappointment and frustration that the two met again three times in the following three years: once with the escape of Sirius Black from Azkaban Prison, then with the importation of a number of exotic creatures for the Triwizard Tournament, and then finally with the return of Lord Voldemort and Fudge's resignation and replacement by Rufus Scrimgeour[2].

Personality and traits
Blair liked to appear well-informed, collected and knowledgeable, and had a very good memory, recalling details of the shortest of conversations from years prior in an attempt to appear well-informed[2]. He was also a strict disbeliever in anything magical or surreal, and as a consequence tried to force himself into believing that Cornelius Fudge was a delusion caused by stress, and had to grip his desk for support upon learning that wizards were real[2].

Behind the scenes
In real life, Tony Blair was leader from 1997 to 2007 and thus in the canonical world, Blair started just shy of a year early.

[TrenterPercenter]

Blairite? Can you explain? If I had to pigeon-hole it politically, Harry Potter seems like a series about a grammar school kid who was destined to ascend, and sort of "meritocratic" in that sense. Is that a blairite notion? but surely much older?

I wrote a bit on this few pages back you may (or may not be interested in) but it just got lost in people doing their typical CaB reactive takes..

I don't know why people could not see through all of this JKR stuff years back; there was a distinct Blairite rubbish to her then and JKR was always held up as some rags to riches working class female trailblazer; just one sitting in Starbucks writing away with her over stretched working class credentials largely based around getting refused from Oxford and having to settle for going to Exeter Uni (which is a very typical choice for failed Oxbridge types).  She got married, had a kid, got a divorce and was on the dole; and then became very poor........because that is what happens when you are on the dole.  I don't know how much of this was projected onto her as she became a useful exception-to-the-rule and example of bootstraps being pulled up (probably quite a lot because that is what the press do in this country and she can't be blamed for that) but for me I always felt this was reflected in her writing and her worldview.  She writes about posh people; she just gives you a very stereotypical rags to riches tale as cover; this is nothing novel; it's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that fetishes boarding schools; it is fascinating to consider what CPs says in the vid about being vulnerable to being "trans" and putting that alongside her male pen name and creating the equally unnecessary male protagonist Harry Potter; I don't know for sure but like CP I don't think JKR was really having gender identity crisis, however I think giving herself a male pen name in some way made her equivalent to those female writers that actually had to as a means of survival; Harry is just basically her as far as I can tell; again just to obscure self-indulgence (which is actually Freudian just not the sex obsessed interpretations of what Freud said) rather than anything Oediple. 

So with all this it came as absolutely no surprise whatsoever when she took a weird dislike to Corbyn; he of course is a complete threat to her as his socialism and working class solidarity was more than skin deep.  Anyway I get people like the HP fantasy but it isn't for me and it is another debate regarding how often these faux representations for working class are used to crowd out other realer, progressive and dangerous to the establishment ones.  This is nothing to do with attempting to go to Oxbridge or that JKR has no claim to use the moniker of working class, or that her experience of her own poverty isn't worth anything etc.. you can be posh and be great at working class solidarity; Orwell being a great example (at one level it is a difference between growing up in poverty and being poor for a period in later life)  It's telling that her reflection on being poor in later life as her being a failure; a personal failing not something that society creates and forces on people.

[ajsmith2]

Blairite? Can you explain? If I had to pigeon-hole it politically, Harry Potter seems like a series about a grammar school kid who was destined to ascend, and sort of "meritocratic" in that sense. Is that a blairite notion? but surely much older?

There's also the fact that the HP book series ran entirely concurrently with Blair's time in office, 1997-2007.

[TrenterPercenter]

Shit and whoops

[idunnosomename]

your a neoliberal harry

[Twit 2]

Professor Dumblecunt's eyes twinkled behind his halfmoon spectacles. "You see, Harry, Hogwarts has been incorporated into a multi-academy trust. I am now the Executive Headteacher. We've sold the Quidditch pitch to make room for luxury flats. I've laid off the support staff, so if Snape is late for your lessons it's because he's been cleaning my bog. And I'm afraid to say he—along with all the experienced staff—are being pushed out on capability. We have some cheap, unqualified, ahem sorry, fresh young wizarding tutors for you. Trans women are male rapists lol!"

[TrenterPercenter]

Professor Dumblecunt's eyes twinkled behind his halfmoon spectacles. "You see, Harry, Hogwarts has been incorporated into a multi-academy trust. I am now the Executive Headteacher. We've sold the Quidditch pitch to make room for luxury flats. I've laid off the support staff, so if Snape is late for your lessons it's because he's been cleaning my bog. And I'm afraid to say he—along with all the experienced staff—are being pushed out on capability. We have some cheap, unqualified, ahem sorry, fresh young wizarding tutors for you. Trans women are male rapists lol!"

+1 Karma

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

Just spotted via Simpsons Shitposting



I would also like to also express my fondness for that particular Twit post

[Twit 2]

+1 Karma

Cheers.

your a neoliberal harry

The brevity of this tickled me!

[George Oscar Bluth II]

According to my friend who's actually seen it, the evil wizard played by Johnny Depp in Fantastic Pots of Money and Where to Make It, the needless Potter prequel series, is a bad guy because he wants to use magic to prevent the rise of the Nazis and World War II.

[Buelligan]

Is your friend called Keith?

[Mister Six]

I don't remember that, although if it's revealed in his big speech at the end of the second film I was too busy wondering why they hacked down a subplot to they extent that it made no sense but kept in a bunch of other random crap that could have been turfed out.

IIRC he's a bad guy because he wants wizards to rule over non-magical people, and is willing to kill anyone to make that happen. He might have had some kind of "look how self-destructive they are, they already had one world war and they'll do it again" speech to justify his radicalism to his followers (there's definitely something like that going on there) but I don't think he actually wants to stop the Nazis, nor is that identified as his reason for being the baddie.

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I have been deceived and I apologise to The Dark Wizard from the Film and to JK Rowling

[Perplexicon]

He did The Savage Stone Age that talked about Australopithecus and Homo Erectus and the like. I can't imagine he denies the theory of evolution.

Terry's going to be apoplectic when he finds out I've had to go to a library to check the exact nature of his Charles Darwin disapproval.

[JaDanketies]

Makes sense that Terry Deary would be a libertarian. Libertarianism is definitely tailored for 8 to 12 year olds.

[Poirots BigGarlickyCorpse]

Lindsey Ellis' newest video, Tracing the Roots of Pop Culture Transphobia, includes discussion of JK's stupid book. It's a brisk hour long with none of those pesky costume and scenery changes for all of you who hate entertainment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTMidTLO60

[dead-ced-dead]

Lindsey Ellis' newest video, Tracing the Roots of Pop Culture Transphobia, includes discussion of JK's stupid book. It's a brisk hour long with none of those pesky costume and scenery changes for all of you who hate entertainment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTMidTLO60

C&B: Haters of Joy.


That said, I do love Lindsey Ellis. Thanks for the link.

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

[Blumf]

Links, mate, wave of the future!

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/jk-rowling-new-trans-war-25683438

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has become embroiled in a new trans row following comments from a top Scottish cop.

The author posted on social media after Police Scotland said a rape could be committed by a woman if the attacker identifies as a female.

They say the sex or gender identification of individuals who come into contact with the police will be based on how they present or how they self-declare

...

Rowling responded to the assistant chief constable's comments on her own Twitter page.

Quoting an article from The Times, she tweeted: "War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman."

Not sure why it's important what the rapists identifies as, just that they get caught and brought to justice.

Also, what proportion of rapists are trans? Is it 90%? No?