An Ethnographic Analysis of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter Series
This essay will represent the ethnographic interpretation of a cultural object from the text Harry Potter. In this essay the object that will be considered for the ethnographic
interpretation is Hogwarts building. To comprehend the architecture, social order, and class structure of the Hogwarts Building in the Harry Potter series, anthropological lenses might be applied. The architecture of the castle reflects social stratification, history, and continuity, much like British educational institutions. The magical vs. non-magical places expose ideas of otherness and exclusion, while the house system mirrors social divisions and class patterns. Insights on gender roles, power dynamics, cultural variety, rituals, education, and space are also provided by the institution. Through the examination of Hogwarts via different lenses, students might get a more profound understanding of the fictitious realm.
Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the centre of the novel and wherepeople born with the ability to perform magic and the young witches and wizards come to learn magic. At this school, the young witches and wizards also get to learn how to fully and safely channel and tap into their magical abilities while they choose the path of their future. To examine the ethnographic representation of the school it is essential to analyse the significance of cultural aspects with regards to Hogwarts school. It is culturally represented as a place where people explore their potential as well as focus on magic with British traditions. It is quite similar, and it also reflects the values of British boarding schools such as house systems, school uniform, strictness and discipline. The uniforms worn by the students are quite traditional and old school which includes ties, house badges and robes. The school also has the traditional housing system which is quite like the traditional British boarding schools where the students are placed into one of four groups (houses) in the novel those houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. In chapter 7 of the first Harry Potter series book, Welcome to Hogwarts, said Professor McGonagall. The start-of- term banquet will
begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted in your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. (pg.122)[K. Rowling, (Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, Bloomsbury, London, 2014) p. 122, ]. All the four houses are different in their own ways; each house has shown to have its own varied and unique traits and qualities that the students of that house are known for. This housing system can be used in reference to explain the traditional housing system that has been adopted in the school setting of most traditional British boarding schools (Saxena & Multani, 2012).
The students of Hogwarts also are a lot active in sportive and thrilling activities such as Quidditch. It is a very popular sport played by the students/ witches and wizards of Hogwarts school. It is played on a broomstick which gives the play a magical effect and a twist. Each team has seven player who constantly try to score points by throwing the quaffle through the opponents hoops and there are also Beaters who try to knock down the Bludgers of the opposite team and Seekers who try to catch the Golden Snitch. It is a game that is very fast paced and a game which requires a lot of energy. The Quidditch season has begun. On Sunday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House Championship (pg.193). The sport, Quidditch is quite like the other British sports like Rugby or Football.Like any other sport, it serves as a form of entertainment, but also as a uniting factor among societies, allowing them to bond over the things they are passionate about, as well as building a sense of unity among the community members. Just like sports in the modern society, Quidditch, the main sport in the Harry Potter books, promotes solidarity, physical fitness, healthy competition, and pleasure while also serving cultural and social purposes. Players and viewers are drawn to it by its high stakes and quick paced gameplay, and House Championships foster support. The intense house rivalry and rich history of Quidditch encourage cooperation and social engagement. Because of its cultural significance, which is modeled after actual sports, students can use their competitive energy for good.
In the Harry Potter novel, the political position of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is not a much of a topic that has been investigated. Hogwarts is like a main and central figure of learning and getting education in the world of wizards which is shown to stop the dark forces like Voldemort from the wizarding world. As we read through the novel the Hogwarts schools looks like place where the young wizards can learn and grow up. It looks like a safe place with a supportive and challenging environment. The political representation of blood purity, prejudice in the wizarding world, and the interaction between wizards and Muggles are all explored in the Harry Potter series. These prejudices and hierarchies are frequently reflected in the Ministry of Magic, the ruling authority. Because of its reputation for upholding blood purity, the Slytherin House serves as a haven for supporters of pure blood. Muggle-born wizards encounter prejudice and difficulties integrating. The drama series also emphasizes reform and resistance groups that stand up for justice and equality, such the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army[Ibid.]. However, as we pace through the novel it is quite noticeable thatHogwarts and its teachers as well as students are shown to reject these discriminations and the beliefs which arise from it. The students are also shown to embrace other students from all kinds of backgrounds by promoting equality and the feeling of being included and accepted. This unique and intriguing political position of Hogwarts school shows the positive impacts of acceptance, rejection of discrimination, unity and strength.
How should a woman read this poem? Is it possible that the apparent absence of women as addressees might be construed as a testament to the idea that a woman reader is precisely what the poem calls for but cannot have, and that this strange absence is figured in the rhetoric of the poem itself, for instance in the image of `trying to hold the wind in a net? Is the wind that is woman more or less powerful than the net? Is the net of patriarchy that we mentioned earlier only so much wind in turn? (pg. 218).Gender in context which the Hogwarts School is quite noticeable as there is a very clear distinction between men and female characters and the roles as well as other things when gender is brought up. Gender dynamics, roles, and representation are all explored in the Harry Potter series. Gender norms typically show female characters as caring and men ones as more active. Gender conventions are challenged by strong female characters that exhibit brilliance and leadership, such as Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger. Characters that are androgynous, like Luna Lovegood, act in ways that go against gender expectations. Dolores Umbridge and Professor McGonagall are two examples of strong female role models that subvert gender norms. In the wizarding community, masculine supremacy is reinforced by Dumbledore's influence. In addition, the show emphasizes intersectionality with other identities, despite the dearth of female and ethnic minority character presence[ Heilman, E. E. (Ed.). (2008). Critical perspectives on Harry Potter. Routledge.]. One of the most interesting ways to view gender is by the gender of the reader. They ways in which the book is read by a particular gender such as female can interpret and connect the character, storyline/plot in various ways such as the feminist way, the strong effects of constant patriarchy of past and present etc.
There are also certain traits given to each gender in a traditional and stereotypical way such as the character of Harry Potter himself is shown to be courageous and someone who is trying to go through great lengths to achieve greatness through out the series of novel. As a classic masculine hero, Harry Potter epitomizes bravery, tenacity, and selflessness. He always confronts risk, rising above setbacks to accomplish lofty objectives. He is the epitome of pure heroism because of his unwavering quest for knowledge and selflessness, which included battling Voldemort[Ibid.].
A pivotal figure in the Harry Potter books, Hermione Granger is a model of moral rectitude, bravery, and brilliance. She is renowned for her curiosity and research abilities, succeeds academically, and knows a vast amount of magical information. Hermione is a courageous person who defends justice, which is in line with Gryffindor ideals. She is proactive, resourceful, and assumes leadership responsibilities. Hermione's character is enriched by her personal hardships and her obvious emotional depth and commitment to Harry and Ron[ Ibid].
If the book has been read in the feminist way, the character of Hermione Granger has also been shown to achieve as much greatness as Harry Potter but due her gender she has been limited of it.In the depiction of gender, the writers gender can also be taken in consideration to alternate the view of it.
This sort of disruption or subversion of identity is further suggested at the level ofwriting itself. The narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper presents herself as a writer. This is indicated in the passage we cited at the beginning of this chapter: I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind? The narrator attests to her own 'imaginative power and habit of story-making'. With this in mind we could suggest the following hypothesis: wherever there is writing, sexual or gender identity becomes equivocal, questionable, open to transformation[Bennett, A., & Royle, N. (An introduction to literature, criticism and theory, Routledge, 2023)]. In conclusion the topics such as gender, sexual differences, political view and culture in Harry Potter can be viewed in varied ways.
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