The Conversation (0)
News
x
Moya Lothian-McLean
1600417800
Getty
Conversations about whether we should separate the art from the artist have been ongoing in music, literature, television and film for years.
But now the discussion has reached video games, thanks to JK Rowling.
Warner Brothers recently announced Hogwarts Legacy, a new Harry Potter game scheduled in line with the upcoming release of the PlayStation 5.
Here's our first look at Hogwarts Legacy, the next-gen Harry Potter-style MMO 💫 https://t.co/e7mjPu172d— GameSpot (@GameSpot) 1600299000
But there have been calls to boycott the game on social media, thanks to its source material which is penned by JK Rowling.
The author has recently made a number of statements which have been interpreted as transphobic and have culminated in her returning a human rights award.
This week there was further alarm from LGBTQ+ organisations and the public alike when it was revealed Rowling’s latest novel in her ‘Strike’ series features a cisgender male serial killer who ‘cross-dresses’ and disguises himself as a woman while committing his crimes.
Many accused Rowling of stirring further anti-trans fears with her portrayal of the character.
Hey now let's not get carried away, the serial killer in JK Rowling's book is absolutely NOT a trans woman He is… https://t.co/foeS3C0YEV— Vapor Weyve (@Vapor Weyve) 1600237307
And now, the release of Hogwarts Legacy has some saying that there should be a mass-boycott of Rowling-related products altogether.
You CANNOT separate JK Rowling from Harry Potter. Continuing to give her money is now contributing to violence agai… https://t.co/OiUnEqegdr— Grayson (Bookings Open) (@Grayson (Bookings Open)) 1600303719
People think Rowling will receive royalties from Hogwarts Legacy.
Some trans individuals equated supporting the game with ‘not caring’ about trans people.
I see a LOT of people with real weird beliefs about the game industry trying to justify buying Hogwarts Legacy with… https://t.co/GJNXjGlqa5— Crystal Frasier (@Crystal Frasier) 1600368445
But others disagreed and said they didn’t care if people purchased the game and that an understanding of ‘comradeliness’ has been lost.
Others also emphasised that Rowling’s involvement would have been minimal and it would be the developers who’d suffer from a boycott.
JK Rowling’s shitty actions are not grounds to not support Hogwarts Legacy. She has no involvement with the game. A… https://t.co/LqZ0DEE10h— Riv (@Riv) 1600346588
As one person put it, "Harry Potter is way more than that person”.
I waited #HogwartsLegacy for long and I stand against JKR actions today, but developers and people involved into HP… https://t.co/IWKAlsFTK5— Barbara 🍇 •Lightingway• (@Barbara 🍇 •Lightingway•) 1600336424
For their part, Warner Bros have distanced themselves from Rowling in an FAQ on their website, clarifying that the author was “not directly involved" in the creation of the game.
“Her, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World,” the statement read, adding:
“This is not a new story from JK Rowling”.
To buy or not to buy… that is the question.