Just Muggle Things
I decided to combine my answers for activity 3 and 4, because I think they are related and I also wanted to discuss one subject only. Harry Potter is very popular because people found magic interesting. Some also can relate to the struggles of the protagonist, being highlighted by the fantastic writing of scriptwriters and the author.
With that being said, I used to love reading Harry Potter books made by JK Rowling. That is, until the author started giving out many interpretations of the work, even after the series has ended. In my opinion, giving out too many details suffocates the viewers and leaves their imagination dry.
What disturbed me the most was revealing Dumbledore’s sexuality after the canonical publication of the books and film showings. While I wholeheartedly agree that the LGBTQ+ community should get representation, I can’t help but question the author, why just now? It would have been beautiful and more empowering if it was revealed in the duration of all the movies and books.
I would personally recast the character of Hermione Granger, because I always thought she was a black woman due to her descriptions found in the canonical text. It was also confirmed by JK Rowling herself, albeit only at the end of the series like Dumbledore’s sexuality. Some changes made by the directors were helpful, some were not. It was also phenomenal to watch Alan Rickman portray Snape.
It is very necessary to hold space for other interpretations for any movie, ad, or songs to have a wider understanding of the issues it tries to portray or represent. If one only accounts for the author’s lenses, it may lessen misinterpretations but limits the pool of information one can use as a reference. It sucks the fun out of these forms of art. Finally, there may be subconscious interpretations the author is not aware of, and it may be helpful if they consider other external points from their perspective to improve their craft and cater to their audience.
Reference
Taylor, R. (2021). Harry Potter poster . [Online Image]. Collider. https://collider.com/how-to-watch-harry-potter-movies-in-order/
















