3.1 Choosing Between What is Right and What is Easy: Discussing J. K. Rowling
In light of J. K. Rowling’s recent transphobic comments, this week I’m tackling a big question: can we separate the art from the artist?
This episode is not a discussion or “debate” on trans rights. A person’s right to live their life as their truest self is not a debate, it is a human right. This episode is a discussion on what we do when the creator of something we love reveals their values are in conflict with our own.
Listen to the episode here
Download full transcription here
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Queer voices on J. K. Rowling
‘J. K. Rowling Sees Herself As Harry Potter, But Is She Really Voldemort?’ by Dawn Ennis – Forbes, 10th June 2020
‘Harry Potter Saved My Life. J. K. Rowling Is Now Endangering Trans People Like Me’ by Kacen Callender – Them., 8th June 2020
‘Opinion: Why J. K. Rowling is on the wrong side of history’ by Travis Hunter – SBS, 10th June 2020
‘Harry Potter and the Author Who Failed Us’ by Aja Romano – Vox, 11th June 2020
‘Harry Potter and the order of the deal breakers’ by Casey Plett – Xtra, 17th June 2020
‘Opinion: Harry Potter lives on in us, not in J. K. Rowling’s tweets’ by Daniel Mazzacane – Los Angeles Times, 27th December 2019
‘J. K. Rowling’s transphobia is a product of British culture’ by Katelyn Burns – Vox, 19th December 2019
On cancel culture
‘Why we can’t stop fighting about cancel culture’ by Aja Romano – Vox, 30th December 2019
‘I’m a Black Feminist. I Think Call-Out Culture is Toxic’ by Loretta Ross – Los Angeles Times, 17th August 2019
‘Everyone Is Canceled’ by Jonah Engel Bromwich – The New York Times, 28th June 2018
More videos and articles that informed this episode
‘Death of the Author’ by Lindsay Ellis – YouTube, 31st December 2018
‘Why Criticising the Things We Love Is More Important Than Ever’ by Chelsea Ennen – The Mary Sue, 22nd November 2016
‘Calling myself out during lockdown.’ by Leena Norms – YouTube, 21st June 2020
‘Intentional Reading and How to Diversify Your Reading Material’ by Seji for The Artisan Geek – YouTube, 25th June 2020
‘When Should We Separate Art From the Artist?’ by T1J – YouTube, 1st December 2017
‘Love the Art, Hate the Artist’ by Sarah Urist Green for The Art Assignment – YouTube, 6th September 2018
‘Why art is not separate from the artist’ by Stanley Fish for The Institute of Art and Ideas – YouTube, 16th January 2019
‘what’s insane is that jk rowling essentially raised us to stand up to her bigotry’
Katie Jo [@katiejoyofosho] on Twitter
Featured image: me at the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London.