Accio Politics

Stop the presses! Ginny and Harry finally have their first kiss, and the goss is juicy this chapter (just ask Moaning Myrtle). For this chapter, your hosts talk about the politics of consequences and gossip, which gives us a look to the internality (consequences) and the externality of characters (gossip). Patrons get a bonus segment for this episode! This week, we're diving deep into the parallel...

In this chapter, we get to see Professor Slughorn's real memory. Helene and Adri talk about the politics of Morality and Intent vs. Outcome as it relates to Slughorn's memory and Voldemort's actions.    Patrons get a bonus segment for this episode! This week, we're talking about what it would look like if we gender-flipped Peter Pettigrew in our ongoing Girl Who Lived series. Want access to this b...

In this chapter, Ron and Hermione have to take their apparition exams and Hermione passes but Ron fails by an eyebrow technicality. Harry finally uses some gulps of his Felix Felicis to get the memory from Slughorn and sets off to *checks notes* Hagrid's. The way the potion works is not necessarily straightforward, as it confidently guides him to do and say things that will get him his desired res...

In this chapter, Ron can't find a way to break up with Lavender, Harry is still trying to figure out what Draco is all about, and Hermione keeps reminding Harry that his priorities are all out of whack. With this in mind, we talk about the politics of surveillance and priorities, including a discussion on if a certain plot point of the chapter could have given us some clues as to the author's TERF...

Happy New Year, everybody! As we take on 2022, we talk all about how everyone is pursuing a goal (or rather, is being very ambitious in this chapter). Harry wants to find out what's going on with Ginny and Dean, Dumbledore wants to find Slughorn's real memory, Ron desperately wants to keep the status quo with Lavender, and we see a glint of Voldemort's ambition through memories. Adri talks about t...

Harry gets hounded all over Hogwarts, ends up having a nasty head injury, and solves a plot hole all on his own! Helene talks all about theorizing and how it's the main action that builds the chapter, while Adri talks about arrogance (and the lack thereof) in the chapter and how that trait in characters dictates what happens in the chapters.     Patrons get a bonus segment for this episode! This w...

Happy Holidays! With the Christmas holiday upon us, we thought we should re-release our conversation about what it's like to be a Jewish person living in a majority Christian world with special guest Shoshana, who gives us glimpses of being Jewish in the UK, and with our own Helene, who gives us glimpses of growing up Jewish in the U.S. While these are just two accounts of women living in cultures...

Ron ate the wrong chocolates and got poisoned (twice!). Adri and Helene talk about the politics of Determination and Autonomy, respectively, as they dissect the events of the chapter through their specific lenses.   We also read some of the answers we got to last episode's question of the week: Do you think Slughorn was more ashamed of Voldemort's actions (morality) or the optics of being associat...

We're back at Hogwarts and Harry meets with Dumbledore to see two distinct memories that will help in understanding Voldemort's ultimate plan. Helene and Adri talk about the politics of Shame, how it shapes our understanding of politics, and what happens in this chapter. We also read some of the answers we got to last episode's question of the week: What could the Ministry of Magic have done to re...

It's Christmas time (in this chapter of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, at least)! We talk about the politics of optics and loyalty when it comes to the comings and goings in this chapter, specifically Harry's run-in with Scrimgeour at the Burrow. We also discuss our listeners' unanimous answers to last week's question: Should love potions be outlawed in the wizarding world? This week's qu...

This week, we're talking about exploitation and status. Harry is chased all over Hogwarts because the girls just can't contain themselves, Hermione plans to make Ron jealous, and Draco is up to something shady (so of course Harry must investigate, right?).   We also discuss our listener's amazing answers to last week's question: Was Hermione justified in sending the birds to attack Ron? Why or why...

This week, we talk about Hermione's reaction to seeing Ron couple up with someone else, how Harry fake roofies Ron's pumpkin juice to dramatic effect, and Harry's realization that he feels more than brotherly love for one Ginny Weasley. This leads us to talk about the politics of Jealousy and Communication.   The question of the week is: Was Hermione justified in sending the birds to attack Ron? W...

Is who we are determined by our genes (nature) or our upbringing and culture (nurture)? This is one of the questions that we ask ourselves in this episode of this podcast, especially when it comes to the differences between Harry and Voldemort. We also talk about how knowledge can be used as a form of currency; this can be seen in social gains and even monetary ones. We also consider a bombshell t...

Due to scheduling conflicts, we couldn't record a new episode of the show this week. We didn't want the feed to go empty this week, so please enjoy this re-release of our episode from earlier this year plus a bonus segment that was only available for Patrons of the show until now.   Become a Patron for as little as $2/month by heading over to www.patreon.com/acciopolitics We want to hear from you!...

Adri is joined by special guest Laurie, the producer for the Potterversity podcast to discuss chapter 12 of Half Blood Prince. We talk about how this chapter intersects with the politics of suspicion and consent, including the imperiused Katie Bell and Hermione's skepticism about the character of the Half Blood Prince. We also talk about the nature of the spells the Prince developed and Harry's wi...

This week, we talk about that chapter where Hermione helps Ron, unbeknownst to him, get into the Gryffindor Quidditch team. When we were thinking about which politics were driving the chapter, we thought about the politics of attention and preferential treatment. We're also featuring the best answers to our question of the week! This week, the question our listeners answered was: What is more resp...

This week, we talk about that chapter where Harry met Voldemort's extended family via Pensieve. When we were thinking about which politics were driving the chapter, we thought about the politics of ancestry and supremacism. One is based upon who your family was or what they did being an indicator of success (or failure) and the other is based on how the composition of each person is indicative of...

It's the first day of classes at Hogwarts, and we are talking about the politics of cheating and the myth of self-sufficiency. This week we have a ton of questions that we try to answer as best as possible. Was Harry was cheating by following the hand-written instructions in the Half-Blood Prince's Potions book? Why did Snape never share his potions brilliance with the wizarding world at large or...

Harry's finally back at Hogwarts and he is in for a surprise when it comes to staff appointments for the coming school year. Adri and Helene talk about the politics of School Administration and Bullying when it comes to what is influencing the events of this chapter. We also talk about the restrictive and cruel law regarding reproductive rights that went into effect last week in Texas. Patrons get...

Well, we're back on the Hogwarts Express! This time, Helene and Adri talk about the many ways that they see the politics of nepotism and privilege interact in this chapter, as well as in the rest of the book. We talk about Slughorn's favoritism of those associated with prestige and power, Draco's lack of growth as a boy who insists you remember who his father is, Ginny's absolute power, Harry's gr...

Join us as the trio venture into Diagon Alley for the first time since the ministry has openly admitted that Lord Voldemort is back. Helene and Adri discuss the politics of Public Security and the politics of Commodities as it relates to both the ministry's actions and how capitalism is alive and well, even in grim circumstances.   Patrons get a bonus segment for this episode! This week, we're tal...

Harry gets to the Burrow earlier than scheduled and we get a glimpse into Arthur's dearest ambition and Molly's favorite nickname. Adri is joined by guest host Ann from the Speak Beasty podcast and they talk about the politics of tribalism and family, including why oh why Ginny Weasley loses her perpetual cool when it comes to Fleur joining the family. Patrons get a bonus segment for this episode!...

Harry is off to the Burrow under Dumbledore's chaperonage, but before we pop in to see our favorite red-headed family, we've got a side quest to complete. Yes, you read that right, Dumbledore has one more trick up his sleeve (presumably the one with complete mobility): popping in to see a professor about leaving retirement. Helene and Adri talk about politics, as per usual, but there's one more im...

Finally, a chapter with Harry in it! In between headlines and narrative paywalls (what did the rest of those articles say anyway?) Harry is snoozing away until Dumbledore appears in the Dursley's home, just as he promised he would. Perhaps it's the realization that Harry didn't quite trust Dumbledore to show up, or it's the weight of benign neglect, but Dumbledore manages to call out the Dursleys...

Finally, a chapter with Harry in it! In between headlines and narrative paywalls (what did the rest of those articles say anyway?) Harry is snoozing away until Dumbledore appears in the Dursley's home, just as he promised he would. Perhaps it's the realization that Harry didn't quite trust Dumbledore to show up, or it's the weight of benign neglect, but Dumbledore manages to call out the Dursleys...