Social issues in J. K. Rowling´s Harry Potters series

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): DruštvenI problemI u serijalu „Harry Potter“ autorice J. K. Rowling
• Author: Kristina Zirdum
• Mentor: Smiljana Narančić-Kovač (mentor)
• Mentor: Nada Kujundžić (sumentor)
• Committee member: Ivana Cindrić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Smiljana Narančić-Kovač (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Milković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2019-07-12, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Comparative Literature
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Sociology

Abstract

This thesis explores social issues in J.K. Rowlingʼs Harry Potter series by analysing different stereotypes and types of prejudice present in these books. The focus is on different forms of discrimination depicted and exposed throughout the series, including racism, seen through the importance of blood purity, which is compared to anti-Semitism; stereotypes about the Hogwarts houses; the treatment of house elves and goblins; the discrimination of werewolves; and gender stereotypes. The final chapter discusses the politics of the wizarding world as a social issue. As portrayed in the series, the different social issues analysed in this thesis make Rowlingʼs readers look beyond the magic described in the books and think about the same issues that appear in our world. The thesis concludes that Rowlingʼs series addresses many social issues, especially those related to blood purity and discrimination of those considered less worthy in the wizarding world. The series also touches upon gender stereotypes and political issues in a less direct way since they are portrayed more subtly.

Abstract (croatian)

Ovaj diplomski rad istražuje društvene probleme koji se javljaju u serijalu „Harry Potter“ autorice J. K. Rowling analizirajući različite stereotipe i predrasude spomenute u knjigama. Rad osobito istražuje različite oblike diskriminacije, uključujući rasizam, prikazan kroz isticanje čistokrvnosti koja se uspoređuje s antisemitizmom, stereotipe vezane uz pojedine „domove“ u školi Hogwarts, tretman kućnih vilenjaka i goblina, diskriminaciju vukodlaka i rodne stereotipe. Posljednje poglavlje bavi se politikom čarobnjačkoga svijeta, koja također predstavlja društveni problem. Različiti društveni problemi koji se javljaju u romanima o Harryju Potteru i analiziraju u ovom diplomskom radu potiču čitatelja da gleda mimo same čarolije koju knjige prikazuju te razmisli o istim problemima koji se javljaju u stvarnom svijetu. Zaključak je diplomskoga rada da serijal
J. K. Rowling govori o raznim društvenim problemima, posebno onima koji su vezani uz čistokrvnost i diskriminaciju onih koji se u čarobnjačkom svijetu smatraju manje vrijednima. Serijal se također dotiče rodnih stereotipa i političkih problema, ali na suptilniji način jer se oni ne prikazuju tako očito kao istaknuti.

• Keywords: J.K. Rowling; Harry Potter; social issues; racism; blood purity; discrimination of house elves and goblins; gender stereotypes; anti-Semitism; politics as a social issue
• Keywords (croatian): J. K. Rowling; Harry Potter; socijalni problem; rasizam; čistokrvnost; diskriminacija kućnih vilenjaka i goblina; rodni stereotipi; anti-semitizam; politika kao društveni problem
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:671807
• Study programme: Title: Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study of Primary Teacher Education and Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study for Primary Teacher Education with English and German Language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-12-02 12:23:35