Week Four - Fantasy

Why does the religious right in the US condemn fantasy, according to Cockrell (2004)?

In Layman’s terms it is pretty much because every day Americans are scared by the fact that Harry and all the magical things associated with him live in their own world. Cockrell (2004, p. 25) sums this up nicely, “To begin, Harry lives in our world, making him more of a threat. Rowling has abandoned the realm of high fantasy and laid her story in contemporary England, rather than in the imaginary and medievally flavoured otherworld…”

Generally us human beings like to read Fantasy books as a means of escaping reality, but when we can’t escape that reality and it becomes part of our own world, is when it becomes a threat or even ‘dangerous’ as Cockrell suggests.

So then, the real reason that the religious rights in the US are condemning Fantasy such as Harry Potter is because they feel threatened by it. “Fantasy worlds require those worlds to be independent of our own.” Cockrell (2004, p. 25). Unlike the fact that they don’t seem to have a problem with other Fantasy’s such as ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘The Lord of The Rings’, goes to show that it isn’t really fantasy which they are concerned about but merely Harry Potter as it is too close to home.

Cockrell goes onto say, however, that Christian’s do believe in ‘mysterious powers’. Just take a look at the examples of miracles which happened throughout the bible and it’s obvious to see that unnatural powers and events did take place. I think the real problem now though, is the fact that these magical powers which J.K Rowling portrays in her books, don’t line up with ‘good unnatural powers of the bible’ as witchcraft and wizardry is seen as evil in the bible. It goes against what these ‘Christians’ perceive as natural and normal and so they are scared by this ‘new’ and supposedly ‘evil’ way. “All these things, which have fragmented our culture to the delight of some and unease of others, cause a greater fear of fantasy.” Cockrell (2004, p. 26).

In reality though, just because Harry Potter is set in the natural world where unnatural events take place, it is simply only a piece of literature. For Christians, to be afraid of this whole Fantasy idea is a contradiction to their beliefs as the bible claims to “Fear not, for I am with you”, does it not?


On what grounds does Cockrell defend fantasy literature, using Harry Potter for exemplification?

Cockrell likes to defend fantasy and fair enough too as it is probably one of the greatest inventions of the literature world! Like I mentioned before it is such a magical place to escape into!

Cockrell (2004, p. 26). “One of the most antagonising responses one can give in responding to a challenge based on these beliefs is to say, ‘But they (demons, witches, etc.) aren’t real!’ They may be very real to the person challenging the material.” It is very true to say that these people opposing Fantasy are their own worst enemies. They are the ones that have the choice to believe the stories that are presented to them and they also have the choice to worry about them or not.

In a world where there is so much poverty and so much war going on continually, it is hard to believe why these ‘do-good’ Christians would even give the time of day to worrying about such insignificant problems. It was never a problem before they came along and made it one. Cockrell (2004, p. 27) uses Harry Potter for exemplification to add that “this magic is a device, not a philosophical or spiritual system of beliefs…” “It is studied like one might study Algebra.” “Rowling insists that magic in Harry’s world is a skill to be mastered, that it has no connection with religion or theology, or with supernatural spirits, good or bad.” She goes onto say that it is like science. The end results (whatever anyone takes form it) is their own doing and their own decision. It potentially could turn out bad like a science project gone wrong but at the end of the day it is simply what you make of it.


Reference List
Cockrell, A. (2004). Harry Potter and the Witch Hunters: a social context for the attacks on Harry Potter. The Journal of American Culture, Vol 29, No.

Tolkien, J.R.R. (1988; 1964). On Faerie Stories. In Tree and Leaf. London: Unwin Hyman.