Potterversity

<p> <I>Potterversity: Essays Exploring the World of Harry Potter</I> presents a written companion to the popular Hermione-Approved MuggleNet podcast by the same name. Selected from the top Potter Studies scholars in the field the diverse authors in the volume provide a range of interpretations of wizarding world stories. Essays include analysis of genre conventions literary and religious symbolism the role of games in the series pedagogical approaches and politically challenging issues like U.S. race relations colonialism and gender and sexuality--including direct attention to J.K. Rowling's controversial statements about trans people. </p><p> Grouped into the sections Occult Knowledge Ancient Magic A Question of Character Self and Other Playing Potter and Teaching the Hogwarts Way partnered essays precede transcripts of podcast conversations led by the hosts of <I>Potterversity</I>. The book's essays and conversations aim to engage not only the mind but the spirit as well--the emotional personal and moral responses the Potterverse has evoked in so many people around the world. Fundamentally this book demonstrates that the characters stories and situations of the magical realm promote thinking that helps us navigate our more mundane but no less dangerous world. Perhaps even more importantly they help us to recognize the magic amid our everyday Muggle realities.</p>