Today I found out that we’re all supposed to be into critical theory. If ya ain’t into critical theory, get outta the movement!
Now I know some of you are already using it to do stuff like explain why you can find a parable for a transgender life in Harry Potter, despite our knowledge of authorial intent. You’re saying how through the critical lens of a trans person it is possible to see the story in a way that isn’t what the author intended, and that it’s valid from said perspective. Tremendous.
But a lot of you are slacking on this tip. From now on, whenever you engage with any element of culture, be it a work of fiction or a common aphorism or a commercial product or a philosophical construct, I expect you to justify your opinion of it through thoughtful analysis of your cultural biases and an effort to consider at least a few perspectives other than your own.
If I don’t start to hear better critical analysis of your opinions in my comment section or elsewhere, motherfuckers you are CANCELED. You dig?
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Only commenting to mention that my literal, instant, unfiltered response to the title of this was an immediate “SIR! YES, SIR!”
TOE THE LINE, MADAM CADET! SOUND OFF LIKE YOU GOT A CRITICAL LENS!
SIR! YES SIR!
I DON’T KNOW BUT I’VE BEEN TOLD
MANY THINGS THAT LEFT ME COLD
WHEN THEY WERE CONTEXTU’LIZED
TURNED OUT THEY WERE MOSTLY LIES
LEFT! LEFT! LEFT, NO JUST LEFT!
In the first Harry Potter book, the big reveal line was when Hagrid told 11-year-old Harry: “Yer a wizard, Harry!”
Critical analysis reveals instantly that what this really meant was Hagrid saying:
“Yer a woman, [deadname]!
The phrase “taking the train to Hogwarts” clearly connotes the subtext of: you’re going off for consensual gender counseling and likely receiving taxpayer-funded gender correction surgery if you want it, as is your right as a human in a civilized society.
The whole series is about coming to terms with what one’s true internal identity is, even if you never suspected until your teens, and your former family can’t understand.
Need I add, the whole Harry Potter series is really a celebration of Trans identity and trans rights and trans empowerment, even if that Rowling person doesn’t understand that.
CADET ABBEY – TRULY OUTSTANDING! YOU TRULY ARE AN OFFICER AND A LADY. AT EASE.
Bruce – Yesss… Destroy the foundations of Western Civilization, comrade, destroy!
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Once upon a time, when I was in 11th (or 12th, we had K-13, then, in Germany) grade, a teacher caught me reading Marcuse’s ‘One-Dimensional Man’ in class. I didn’t disdain this teacher, but for some reason I was bored and preferred to read Marcuse, instead of listening.
Guy asked me: “Do you even understand this?”
I answered something like “Dunno, but I’ll try and think over it”.
He said “This doesn’t make it any more true”.
He didn’t punish me, although he very well could have.
… done
I feel I’m missing something in this exchange, even with a little googling I don’t quite get it. PERFECT! Keep it up.
You mean there is an interpretation of Harry Potter apart from the trans one? What is it?