#and making a franchise of wizard school books the battleground of systemic transphobia

[hussyknee]

The worst thing the whole Harry Potter discourse has done is making fandom parrot the take: "Death of the Author doesn't apply when they're living and profiting off their work." Idk how we can come back from that one tbh.

#That's. Not. What. Death. Of the. Author. Means. #it's about the fact that the story must be interpreted according to nothing more than what is on the page #that the way you consume and interpret a piece of art relies on nothing more than your own understanding and preferences #instead of authorial intent‚ fiat or motivation or 'Word of God' (info tacked on later by the creator) #it doesnt free you of the onus of consuming it critically while acknowledging it's problems #or finding an ethical way to consume it which includes not giving the creator money if they use it for harmful purposes #so people who use Death of the Author to continue buying the books and merchandise #or simply gloss over the valid criticism of it #and people who rebutt it by implying that Death of the Author LITERALLY MEANS THE AUTHOR'S DEATH #are both stupidly wrong #unfortunately this idea has now rooted itself so deep as the battle line between white liberals and leftists #that it's hard to imagine it being dispelled any time in the near future #ethical consumption under capitalism is necessary and useful #but the west's egoism as usual has taken a concept and rendered it actively counterproductive through hardwired neoliberal individualism #anyway trying to eradicate the third most read book in the world from global cultural consciousness is a fool's errand #that ends up punishing and policing only the most accessible and vulnerable targets with internet access #and making a franchise of wizard school books the battleground of systemic transphobia #is a clear indication of how leftism has been entirely co-opted by the white bourgeoisie #and the fact that how their approach impacts trans and queer people of the global south #is not even on the west's radar‚ let alone having any allyship with our queer folks #harry potter #fandom #fandom discourse #writing #literary analysis #decolonization #knee of huss