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More People Need(ed) to Read Harry Potter
Nov. 23rd, 2016 02:24 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
annoni-no.livejournal.comI know, a provocative title in this community, but we have concrete evidence that reading Harry Potter leads to a small, but significant, increase in antipathy toward Donald Trump and his policies.
https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/new-study-shows-reading-harry-potter-lowers-americans%E2%80%99-opinions-donald-trump ; (Link through to the actual study in article.)
A while back I posted about a study that found that identifying with Harry Potter led to decreased bias toward stigmatized minorities. At the time, I wondered how reading the series led people to feel about how to deal with their enemies given the vindictiveness the series shows in a close reading. As it turns out, the more Harry Potter books someone has read, even controlling for "party identification, gender, education level, age, evangelical self-identification, and social dominance orientation," the more opposed they were to violence and punitive policies (like torturing their enemies as advocated by Trump) and authoritarianism. This is in addition to confirmation of the decreased bias against outgroups.
You don't have to like Harry Potter, and I completely agree that the books have a lot of problems. But let's not loose sight of the fact that the world is entering a dangerous, if not outright fascistic period. There's too much hatred and divisiveness driving our politics; hate crimes have risen by several hundred percent since Trump's election. If reading Harry Potter does help lead people to greater tolerance and mercy, we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/new-study-shows-reading-harry-potter-lowers-americans%E2%80%99-opinions-donald-trump ; (Link through to the actual study in article.)
A while back I posted about a study that found that identifying with Harry Potter led to decreased bias toward stigmatized minorities. At the time, I wondered how reading the series led people to feel about how to deal with their enemies given the vindictiveness the series shows in a close reading. As it turns out, the more Harry Potter books someone has read, even controlling for "party identification, gender, education level, age, evangelical self-identification, and social dominance orientation," the more opposed they were to violence and punitive policies (like torturing their enemies as advocated by Trump) and authoritarianism. This is in addition to confirmation of the decreased bias against outgroups.
You don't have to like Harry Potter, and I completely agree that the books have a lot of problems. But let's not loose sight of the fact that the world is entering a dangerous, if not outright fascistic period. There's too much hatred and divisiveness driving our politics; hate crimes have risen by several hundred percent since Trump's election. If reading Harry Potter does help lead people to greater tolerance and mercy, we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 33
Aug. 28th, 2015 12:01 am
Tags:
- abridged,
- abridged: dh,
- albus dumbledore,
- author: sweettalkeress,
- bigotry,
- broken aesop,
- devices,
- devotion,
- dh,
- double standards,
- education at hogwarts,
- family,
- friendship,
- humor,
- it's okay if a gryffindor does it,
- lily evans,
- manipulation,
- memory,
- morality,
- prejudice,
- pureblood culture,
- sacrifice,
- secrets and lies,
- severus snape,
- silver doe,
- sword of gryffindor,
- teaching,
- wizard/muggle relations
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 26
Aug. 16th, 2015 10:46 amsweettalkeress.livejournal.com[For the attempted break-in of Gringotts, they decide Hermione will be Polyjuiced to look like Bellatrix]
Hermione: I really hate that I have to go as the woman who tortured me.
Harry: Well, look on the bright side—it’s only for one chapter.
Hermione: I can already tell it’s going to be a long chapter.
( Read Chapter 26 )
Hermione: I really hate that I have to go as the woman who tortured me.
Harry: Well, look on the bright side—it’s only for one chapter.
Hermione: I can already tell it’s going to be a long chapter.
( Read Chapter 26 )
Tags:
- abridged,
- abridged: dh,
- author: sweettalkeress,
- bellatrix lestrange,
- bigotry,
- death eaters,
- devices,
- dh,
- dragons,
- goblins,
- horcruxes,
- humor,
- it's okay if a gryffindor does it,
- likely stories,
- magical artifacts,
- manipulation,
- morality,
- prejudice,
- pureblood culture,
- racism,
- unforgivable curses,
- wizarding world
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 15
Jul. 12th, 2015 06:35 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.com[The next morning, Harry buries Mad-Eye Moody’s magical eye]
Harry: Better there than in the clutches of that evil Umbridge, after all.
( Read Chapter 15 )
Harry: Better there than in the clutches of that evil Umbridge, after all.
( Read Chapter 15 )
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 13
Jul. 7th, 2015 10:57 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.comUmbridge: What are you two looking so surprised about? This is where my office is—of course I would be up here!
( Read Chapter 13 )
( Read Chapter 13 )
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 8
Jun. 30th, 2015 08:39 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.com[On the day of the wedding, Harry is disguised as a long-lost Weasley relative via Polyjuice potion]
Harry: It might be fun to be a lesser being for the day.
( Read Chapter 8 )
Harry: It might be fun to be a lesser being for the day.
( Read Chapter 8 )
Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 1
Jun. 22nd, 2015 02:17 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.comOMG, I’ve reached the final book!
It’s been more than four years since I started this series, but finally I see the end!!
Anyway, let’s get it on!
( Read Chapter 1 )
It’s been more than four years since I started this series, but finally I see the end!!
Anyway, let’s get it on!
( Read Chapter 1 )
Harry Potter Abridged! HBP Chapter 6
May. 26th, 2015 02:35 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.com[Life goes on at the Burrow. Lupin shows up on Harry’s birthday to report mysterious deaths]
( Read Chapter 6 )
*A/N: I think the following quote by Film Brain about sums up this scene:
“Remember, when confronted with ignorance, just descend to its level and beat them up for it! You may be assaulting someone but at least you’re morally right!” XD
( Read Chapter 6 )
*A/N: I think the following quote by Film Brain about sums up this scene:
“Remember, when confronted with ignorance, just descend to its level and beat them up for it! You may be assaulting someone but at least you’re morally right!” XD
Harry Potter Abridged! HBP Chapter 5
May. 24th, 2015 11:02 amsweettalkeress.livejournal.com( See the main cast be rude about French people )
A/N: Okay, is it me or is this chapter rather pointless. Seriously, all that happens in it is, Harry reunites with his friends (and Fleur), and then they're all rude about Fleur for no good reason.
A/N: Okay, is it me or is this chapter rather pointless. Seriously, all that happens in it is, Harry reunites with his friends (and Fleur), and then they're all rude about Fleur for no good reason.
Harry Potter Abridged! HBP Chapter 1
May. 5th, 2015 10:50 amsweettalkeress.livejournal.comA new book begins!!!
( And now for something completely different!! )
*A/N: Sadly, this is pretty much the attitude of the last few books. At least.
( And now for something completely different!! )
*A/N: Sadly, this is pretty much the attitude of the last few books. At least.
Harry Potter Abridged! OotP Chapter 33
Feb. 28th, 2015 02:30 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.com( Short this time! )
*A/N: I’m exaggerating this slightly, but only slightly. Our loving hero who respects the rights of all creatures, ladies and gentlemen!
*A/N: I’m exaggerating this slightly, but only slightly. Our loving hero who respects the rights of all creatures, ladies and gentlemen!
Harry Potter Abridged! OotP Chapter 30
Feb. 12th, 2015 10:39 pmsweettalkeress.livejournal.com[Following the departure of Fred and George, all the other students start thinking up new ways to make Umbridge miserable]
( Warning: abuse )
( Warning: abuse )
Harry Potter Abridged! OotP Chapter 28
Jan. 30th, 2015 11:40 amsweettalkeress.livejournal.comThe chapter we’ve all been waiting for—the first glimpse of Snape’s worst memory!!
( This chapter contains bullying )
( This chapter contains bullying )
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