Drarry Vs. J.K. Rowling: A Fandom in Crisis

This is my first video essay & I had a lot of fun with it!

[rainbowkittyz]

I think the series should have ended with Harry as a defense against the dark arts teacher, it just makes so much more sense for his character

[rosaliecarlson]

Good news from a stats teacher - constantly hedging your claims and pointing out they're uncertain is like, the main thing we want you to take away from that class.

[leosun]

I also think that contributing to the decline of Drarry fanfiction is the growth of the Maurauders fandom and therefore the growth of Jegulus (James Potter/Regulus Black), a ship that is paralleled in a way to Drarry.

[thecatlurking]

Every year I have a little Drarry Summer where I go reread all my old favorite fics and dive into the tag for new ones. My favorite genre is post-series Harry and Draco meeting again as adults (after a lot of personal growth and reflection) to find that the other has a lot of hidden depths to them, sparking a slow-burn romance against a sprawling backdrop that really fleshes out the wizarding world.

[JulianGreystoke]

My new favorite type of YouTube video is queer folks dissecting Harry Potter and the culture around it. For once the algorithm has brought me what I wanted!

[acaterpillargivingbirth]

I read the title as Drake vs JK Rowling and didn't even question it

[maggieheikes]

Great essay, but arguably more impressive for a first video: great accessibility! I'm so used to having to rely on auto-generated captions for my auditory processing issues and you actually have a transcript and closed captioning. You have a dedicated fan now

[GentlethemJoey]

Gay fanfiction was so important to me a closeted lil kid in the 2000s. I learned so much. Lmao.

[emerycorner]

harry growing up to be a cop is CRAZY

like aint you tired?

[Amy-igsu]

Absolutely devastated to click on your page to see this is your only video. Hope to see more from you!!

[phtogrphic]

The role playing warrior cats online was such a severe callout help 😭😭😭😭

[MovieEggman]

I still find it hilarious that JKR is legitimately ignoring the moral messages of her own work that teaches children to not be a bigot.

[eastgalaxy]

Honestly, reclaiming the characters for ourselves, disassociating JK from "her" characters and turning them into everything she hates, is the best revenge possible for how she has ruined so many people's childhoods.

[vvivacious]

I love that Fangirl is just sitting in the background of a video on Drarry.

[valerielaurence]

One thing I particularly enjoy about the HP fandom is how the "fuck-its" created our own magical world with the Marauders as soon as she came out as a transphobe. Like fuck it. She's tainted her own work, but she hasn't tainted ours. And the Marauders and their queer magical universe are ours, now.

That's why I think Drarry fandom is less popular nowadays. To keep your metaphor; we kept our sandbox, but put entirely new sand in it.

I sincerely wonder how many Drarry authors are now Jegulus authors. It has the same enemies to lovers vibes, and the same hero-loved-by-everyone vs characters. 🤔

[belnimue]

Drarry fans are sooo detached from the epilogue that I remember reading Drarry EWE before finishing the last book (I was at my peak obsession with the ship). I still get amazed with the author (and lots of fans) defending Snape, a grown man abuser, as a hero (????), while Draco, a mean KID, clearly is forever doomed 😮

[PigeonOrcas]

The only thing I liked from The Cursed Child is Draco being an exceptionally good dad!! He was the best parent out of the bunch imo

[katharineeavan]

Some very valid points made, but as someone in the UK I would urge people to look into the campaigning and financial backing Rowling does for transphobic causes in the UK, often using the continued popularity of her work as political currency.

How much fanfic contributes or is taken into account in her dealings is up for debate, but Rowling herself has made public claims that every fan of her work supports her beliefs, and that some are just quiet about their support because they fear the wrath of the trans mafia.

Though it's not easy to have these discussions about someone expressing problematic and harmful views, I would say the issue is a whole lot more fraught when you realise she's not just expressing views, she's genuinely influencing UK politics towards transphobia. Only recently she was a massive part in efforts to oppose progressive reforms to Scottish law, and she's literally friends with a former UK Prime Minister. She's got genuine power and influence over here, often fuelled by her perceived cultural power.

[PotterSwiftie]

Now i want you to touch on the marauders fandom because there is a lot. It really is amazing how a fandom could create so much on characters barely mentioned by Rowling.

[andreagriffiths]

I feel that a large part of the HP fandom have basically said Fuck It - JKR taught all of us to stand against tyranny, bigotry, bullying etc. we learned to stand up for those weaker than ourselves, to be true to what is right even if it meant going against friends. Being accepting of those marginalised and penalised for things beyond their control. As such, we have taken HP and are guarding it, using what we were taught against the very person who taught us. We know better and are better! We do better! We are inclusive and supportive of all people regardless of gender identity, sexuality or race.

I cannot and will not hate a work that teaches us these valuable things but I cannot and will not be supportive of the author who clearly failed to learn the lessons her work taught so many of us.