CFP: Potions, Powers, and Prejudice

by RoryLitwin

For a generation, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise was emblematic of heroism, fighting against adversity, and inclusion of outsiders. This is why Rowling’s arguable alignment of herself, in 2020 and since, with transphobic and trans-exclusionary rhetoric felt like such a betrayal to many of her readers, prompting a revaluation of her work and what it means to them now. With the co-edited collection Potions, Powers, and Prejudice: Reassessing Harry Potter, we intend for contributors to explore the matter of what we collectively do with Harry Potter in the wake of its creator’s very public turn. Some readers have favored a careful delineation between author and work; others have regretfully concluded that no such delineation is possible.

This collection is deliberately interdisciplinary in scope, and we welcome contributions from across the disciplines. Topics under consideration might include:

  • Discussions of how, or whether, libraries ought to handle HP-oriented programming and acquisition of HP materials
  • Examinations of the series’ role in curricula
  • Reflections on the distinction between creator and work
  • Retrospective (re)evaluations of other controversial elements of HP (body-shaming, tokenism, racism, classism)
  • Readers’ own narratives of their experiences with the work in light of JKR’s turn
  • Discussions of analogous franchises/works (Diana Wynne Jones, Roald Dahl) as substitutes or interesting points of comparison
  • Examinations of the impact of the series’ convergence across media platforms
  • Other reflections on the complex interaction between JKR’s avowed ideology, the work, and personal/institutional experience

 

All contributions are welcome, and we particularly invite contributions from those in the trans community. The word limit for chapters is approximately 5,000 words, and we ask you to use APA style.

 

Deadlines for submission:

  • January 6: Abstracts due
  • February 17: Notification of acceptance
  • June 16: 1st draft due
  • September 15: Final revisions due
  • November 3: Final submission of manuscript

 

If you’re interested in contributing, please submit a proposal/abstract (approximately 500 words) via our submission form: https://tinyurl.com/potionspowers. If you have questions, please feel free to ask the editors: potionspowersprejudice@gmail.com