Posts tagged as:

Harry Potter and politics

Fictional Politicians

by Travis Prinzi on January 17, 2009

I’m enjoying the Saturday discussion prompts at the My Friend Amy blog, so I thought I’d respond to this week’s as well. The question: Who is your favorite and least favorite fictional politician? I’ll stick with Harry Potter on this. Feel free to answer either from Harry Potter (considering every member of the Ministry is a politician in one way or another) or from any other kind of fiction.

My favorite: You’ll have a hard time guessing this one, won’t you? Albus Dumbledore, of course – primarily because, in good libertarian fashion, he turned down the Minister position 3 times, prefering to work in the fields of justice (Wizengamot), international cooperation, and education. Honorable mention: Arthur Weasley, who wouldn’t compromise principle to get more recognition and power.
My least favorite: Delores Umbridge – and by least favorite, I mean that I hated her, not that she’s not a brilliant character. Honorable mention: Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge. I never liked Scrimgeour, but he died defending Harry, so you can’t get too mad at him.

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Potter’s Politics @ The Old Toad

by Travis Prinzi on January 8, 2009

oldtoad For those in the Rochester, NY and surrounding areas, I will be speaking on Harry Potter & Imagination at The Old Toad on Alexander St. in Rochester at 6pm on February 19.

This month, as something of set-up for my talk, William H. Chellis will be speaking on “The Essential Conservative: Edmund Burke,” with emphasis Burke’s concept of “moral imagination.” That meeting will be at The Old Toad, 6pm on January 27.

edmund-burke With that as a set-up, I’ll be focusing on how imaginative fiction reflects and critiques existing sociopolitical realities and teaches us to “imagine better,” both for inward change in ourselves and outward change in the world. There will, of course, be places of similarity and discord with Burke, which I will do my best to expound.

So, it’s Potter’s Politics at The Old Toad on February 19. Put it on your calendars now!

Also, note that I’ve updated the Schedule page with this event and with a new promo flyer, and I’ve also included links to the audio for previous talks when available.

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