| Oxford graduate student Karen A. Brown has | | | | entitled "Harry Potter and the Minorities |
| published a study on discrimination in J.K. | | | | Issue." |
| Rowling's 'Harry Potter' novels (See While | | | | |
| it has been widely acknowledged that | | | | "Lots of publishers turned me down," Brown |
| Rowling's work chronicles real-world social | | | | claims. "And it was not because of copyright |
| issues through some not-so-subtle subplots | | | | concerns: Many other things have been written |
| and allegories, so far, no one has dedicated | | | | about Rowling's work, none of them being |
| an entire book to the subject. And Brown | | | | given her authorization or approval. But I |
| hastens to emphasize this feature in her | | | | found it curious that most of the rejection |
| blog, where she admits that she has been | | | | letters I got clearly stated that my study |
| doing some "promotional work" for the new | | | | was not marketable because no one was |
| book. (See | | | | interested in reading about prejudice and |
| | | | racism. Some editors stressed that people who |
| Ironically, this book's release coincides | | | | read Harry Potter are not interested in |
| with the latest controversy surrounding | | | | reading 'about' the books. So in the end I |
| Rowling's work, as founder Steve Vander Ark's | | | | decided to publish the book myself, and |
| efforts to publish his own 'Harry Potter | | | | mostly for me, because I strongly believe in |
| Lexicon' have been thwarted by Rowling's | | | | the ideas put forth in it." |
| lawyers. They claim that the Lexicon breeches | | | | |
| their client's copyright and infringes upon | | | | All things considered, Ms. Brown appears to |
| exclusive materials that Rowling intends to | | | | be quite passionate about this project, and |
| use in her own 'Harry Potter Encyclopaedia.' | | | | seems to understand her own legal standing |
| | | | where Rowling's work is concerned: "I did not |
| Since Brown has made it possible for readers | | | | create Harry Potter, obviously. I simply |
| to write to her, I contacted her to enquire | | | | comment on how the books make reference to |
| how she felt about the Vander Ark | | | | some of the social trends in our own world. |
| controversy, and how it impacts upon her | | | | Wizarding-world biases and social hierarchy |
| upcoming publication. She insists that | | | | share some shocking similarities with our own |
| 'Prejudice in Harry Potter's World' does not | | | | world. And I think we need to stop and take |
| in any way infringe upon Ms. Rowling's | | | | notice." |
| copyright, and that all copyrighted materials | | | | |
| (quotes and long citations) are properly | | | | Rowling herself has stated in various |
| referenced and kept to a minimum, as | | | | interviews that the series is a "prolonged |
| specified by the Christopher Little Literary | | | | argument for tolerance." And it is at least |
| Agency, to whom she wrote years ago to | | | | encouraging that one of her readers has |
| request permission to publish an essay | | | | chosen to focus on this message. |