Ethnic Communities in the Wizarding World

In this session, panelists representing multiple ethnic backgrounds discuss the (mis)/representation of their communities within Harry Potter canon and imagine how culture would inform magic, and how magic would inform culture, in both wizarding and Muggle worlds. Through this discussion, we will cross-examine the White, European, pseudo-Christian Wizarding culture of Harry Potter to answer questions like: What would be our culture’s predominant attitude towards magic? How might our rituals and traditions be modified by the use of magic? What kinds of superstitions and myths would wizarding members of our cultures have? Did canon get it right?