Potterversity Episode 54: Monsters and the Monstrous

Potterversity Episode 54: Monsters and the Monstrous

What makes a monster, and how do we relate to them, especially when they produce works of art we love?

There are plenty of monsters in the wizarding world, but the author has also been charged with being monstrous herself following her comments on transgender people. Katy and Emily talk to Lorrie Kim, author of Snape: The Definitive Analysis of Hogwarts's Mysterious Potions Master and host of the podcast Harry Potter After 2020, about Claire Dederer's book Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, which focuses on how audiences respond to art made by controversial creators.

We debate the idea of "the death of the author" and how possible or desirable it is. Audiences often crave details about an artist's life, which can sometimes provide insight into their work. In the internet age, we have so much information at our fingertips and can develop parasocial relationships in which we feel like we really know an artist personally - and then feel particularly hurt when we learn something about them that contradicts our image of them. This kind of revelation can be all the more difficult with media we consumed as children.

What we know about an author can impact how we read their work, as it affects how Harry reads Tom Riddle's diary and the Half-Blood Prince's potions textbook. How do we engage with Harry Potter knowing what we know about the author, and what guidance does the series itself offer?

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Episoder(119)

Potterversity Episode 72: Harry Potter and Identity

Potterversity Episode 72: Harry Potter and Identity

Why is it important to read Harry Potter critically?  Katy and Emily talk about bridging the academic and fan worlds with Dr. Julian Wamble, who teaches a course called Harry Potter and Social Identit...

11 Mai 1h 12min

Potterversity Episode 71: Potter Meets Molesworth

Potterversity Episode 71: Potter Meets Molesworth

We're going back to school, and specifically Latin class, on this episode.Dr. Mitchell Parks (Knox College) joins us once again to connect classical studies to Harry Potter, but this time, we're not l...

13 Apr 59min

Potterversity Episode 70: Harry Potter and the Call for Papers

Potterversity Episode 70: Harry Potter and the Call for Papers

This special episode is a call to join us at our favorite event of the year - the Harry Potter Academic Conference!The 15th annual conference is back in person at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia...

30 Mar 46min

Potterversity Episode 69: Potter Gets Stranger

Potterversity Episode 69: Potter Gets Stranger

We're entering the Upside Down to compare Harry Potter and Stranger Things following the Netflix series's final season. Spoilers ahead - proceed with caution!Katy, Emily, and producer Laurie reflect o...

9 Mar 1h 16min

Potterversity Episode 68: When in Doubt, Go to the Library

Potterversity Episode 68: When in Doubt, Go to the Library

We're heading to Hermione's favorite place in this episode: the library!Ian McLaughlin, an PhD student in English who also holds an MLIS, joins Katy and Emily to reflect on libraries and librarians in...

9 Feb 1h 5min

Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have

Potterversity Episode 67: The Best Hope We Have

We're back with another episode recorded live at the 14th annual Harry Potter Academic Conference, which took place online in October 2025.Katy and Emily are joined by several conference regulars—prod...

12 Jan 58min

Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business

Potterversity Episode 66: Back to Wizarding Business

Why is there a lack of service businesses in the wizarding world? Following up on our earlier episode about magical businesses, our technical director, Emma Nicholson, joins us to continue the conver...

14 Jul 202541min

Potterversity Episode 65: Potter & Trek Part 2 - The Reality Inside Your Head

Potterversity Episode 65: Potter & Trek Part 2 - The Reality Inside Your Head

We're voyaging out to the farthest reaches of space and into the deepest recesses of the mind for another look at Harry Potter and Star Trek. Potterversity regular Louise Freeman, a retired psycholog...

9 Jun 202556min

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