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<p>Like many millennials, I grew up with the <cite>Harry Potter</cite> series and was a major fan of the series. I had read the original 7 books and watched their film adaptations. The series was a passion of mine throughout my early- to mid-teen years. While the <cite>Harry Potter</cite> novels were far from the first books I read, they were the first fantasy novels I read, and the series’ concept of a magical world set in a contemporary setting fascinated teenage me.</p>
<p>However, even during my <cite>Harry Potter</cite> fixation years, there were things from the series that bothered me, from the idea of house elves being a slave race that naturally love being slaves, to Snape’s unconvincing “redemption” arc. As I got older and became more aware of social issues, I started to notice more problems with the series. In addition, reading more books has also made me realise that even on a technical writing level, the <cite>Harry Potter</cite> series was mediocre at best. As a result, I had stopped becoming a <cite>Harry Potter</cite> fan even before J.K. Rowling’s transphobia got mainstream attention.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many adults with nostalgia goggles still refuse to let go of <cite>Harry Potter</cite>, and they believe <cite>Harry Potter</cite> can be separated or “reclaimed” by J.K. Rowling, despite how much Rowling’s worldview and prejudice are inextricably linked to her writing.</p>
<p>Therefore, I am compiling this masterlist by curating various materials that are critical of the <cite>Harry Potter</cite> series and J.K. Rowling. Items are ordered in chronological order. This is far from a comprehensive list of all the pieces that criticise <cite>Harry Potter</cite> and Rowling; this list is my curated list of ones that I have read, watched or listened to, and considered well-done critiques.</p>
<li><ahref="https://alinautrata.medium.com/all-the-things-that-are-fucked-up-about-harry-potter-58267e1bf3ee"target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> by Alina Utrata (28 October 2016)</li>
<li><ahref="https://katymontgomerie.medium.com/addressing-the-claims-in-jk-rowlings-justification-for-transphobia-7b6f761e8f8f"target="_blank">Addressing The Claims In JK Rowling’s Justification For Transphobia</a> by Katy Montgomerie (16 June 2020)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.themarysue.com/is-hogwarts-legacy-anti-semitic-hogwarts-legacy-anti-semitic-allegations-explained/"target="_blank">The Antisemitism of ‘Harry Potter’ Returns in ‘Hogwarts Legacy’</a> by Jack Doyle (8 February 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23603142/hogwarts-legacy-review-harry-potter-jk-rowling-transphobic-ps5-pc-xbox"target="blank">Hogwarts Legacy wants to make everyone happy, but Harry Potter gets in the way</a> by Gita Jackson (17 February, 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.vox.com/culture/23622610/jk-rowling-transphobic-statements-timeline-history-controversy"target="_blank">Is J.K. Rowling transphobic? Let’s let her speak for herself.</a> by Aja Romano (Updated 16 March 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPwWb9z3XSY"target="_blank">Harry Potter is GARBAGE, and Here's Why</a> by satenmadpun (25 August 2020)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AziZgoi3q0"target="_blank">We need to talk about Dudley Dursley- Harry Potter and Fatphobia</a> by Ok2BeFat (30 May 2021)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1iaJWSwUZs"target="_blank">Harry Potter</a> by Shaun (4 March 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou_xvXJJk7k"target="_blank">JK Rowling's New Friends</a> by Shaun (14 October 2022)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBftW7FzOVI"target="_blank">The Consumerist Dystopia of Harry Potter</a> by verilybitchie (21 January 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GBUArD51KY"target="_blank">I'm Done With JK Rowling</a> by Jessie Gender (27 January 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1mHwn6eUUk"target="_blank">Hogwarts Legacy and the Politics of Potter</a> by Wisecrack (11 February 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNKyQVsgKLg"target="_blank">Hogwarts: A Legacy Of Hate (The Jimquisition)</a> by James Stephanie Sterling (13 February 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ncYTEY7aVk"target="_blank">The ALLEGED Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling (What The Megan Phelps Podcast Won't Tell You)</a> by Caelan Conrad (18 March 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pggtSI_95A"target="blank">Maybe The Wizard Game Just Wasn't Very Good (The Jimquisition)</a> by James Stephanie Sterling (20 November 2023)</li>
<li><ahref="https://soundcloud.com/shriekingshack"target="_blank">The Shrieking Shack</a> — A book reading podcast hosted by Xeecee and Liz. Originally a <cite>Harry Potter</cite> reread podcast made by and for lapsed fans that goes through every chapter of the <cite>Harry Potter</cite> books and their film adaptations and analyses the writing and politics of the series and J.K. Rowling.</li>
