Our beloved Headmaster, John Granger, is in Scotland this week, giving the the HogPros on that side of the Atlantic a wonderful dose of his own brand of magic. So, if you are missing his voice here, hop a Portkey over to the wonderful MuggleNet Academic website, which has just put up its latest chapter. In this episode, the subject is very relevant, if a bit racy: sexuality and gender. Join me after the jump for more about the episode, and come back here to comment after you’ve partaken of this feast for the intellect!
Our latest podcast episode from MuggleNet Academia has been released. Lesson 2: ‘Harry Potter and the Sexual Innuendos’ will be sure to raise a few eyebrows and maybe even garner a few laughs during the discussion, but will definitely hold your attention. Join myself and co-host John Granger for this interesting discussion on the phallic and yonic symbols found throughout the Harry Potter series.
Joining us is Professor Edmund M. Kern from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he teaches a course called Thinking About Harry Potter. He’s also the author of The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices (Prometheus Books). Also joining the show as our student guest this week is Kait Zelenenki, 20, a Senior at Chestnut Hill College who is an English Literature major with 2 minors in Religious Studies and Secondary Education.
On todays show:
◦Sexual symbols revealed throughout the series, especially in Chamber of Secrets.
◦Does Dumbledore being gay actually matter?
◦What phallic and yonic symbols did J.K. Rowling really intend to demonstrate in the series?
◦and much much more.
This is a must listen! You can download the lesson right here or head over to iTunes if you prefer.
Wow, a great show. I’d never really considered sexual symbols inside the book — this is another example of Rowling’s great sense of humor.
I was interested in the question about the 3 alchemical characters sexuality. However, I’ve always pictured Sirius as being very masculine. The feminine side seems to be more associated with Lupin.
I’d like to see more of the gender roles discussion that was touched on in this show. I’ve seen quite a bit of Molly vs Bellatrix, Lily vs Merope, and Harry vs Draco. Also lots of praise for Hermione, and less praise for Ginny. Some other ideas: Draco vs Ron, Vernon/Lucius vs Arthur, McGonagall vs Trelawney, Snape vs Lupin, Peter vs Sirius, Beauxbatons & Durmstrang, Cho vs Ginny, Rita vs Hermione, Fudge vs Scrimgeour, Hermione vs Lavender, Ron vs McLaggen, Slughorn vs Snape, Dumbledore/Harry vs Voldemort.
I’ve now listened to both of these podcasts and have loved the opportunity to delve more deeply into the Harry Potter series and consider their impact as literature and what they say about our society and us as readers. Though, I admit that this second installment made me blush at times 🙂
Can’t wait for the next show!