The Slytherin PARADOX Explained | Harry Potter Film Theory

Summary

In this engaging video, the host delves into the real-world history of Slytherin House, focusing on the 1990s and 2000s era when fans of the Harry Potter series eagerly participated in sorting quizzes on Pottermore. The video explores the challenges fans faced when being sorted into Slytherin, the house historically associated with evil characters like Voldemort. It highlights the Slytherin Paradox, where real-world fans of Slytherin were often unfairly judged. Ultimately, the video illustrates how the Harry Potter community, with its focus on unity, transcended these divisions, embracing the values of friendship, courage, and acceptance beyond house boundaries.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fans of Harry Potter in the '90s and 2000s wanted to engage more with the Wizarding World, and discovering your Hogwarts house was a key way to feel part of it.
• 😀 Being sorted into Slytherin caused some fans to feel uncomfortable, as it was depicted as the 'evil' house in the books, associated with villains like Voldemort.
• 😀 Pottermore, the official Harry Potter website, faced a dilemma when 25% of users were sorted into Slytherin, which had a dark reputation from the books.
• 😀 The sorting quiz on Pottermore was designed to avoid obvious answers, making the sorting process feel more authentic for users.
• 😀 After being sorted, Slytherin members received a letter from a house prefect, Gemma Farley, which, despite her attempts to make them feel welcome, also reinforced the house's elitist and dark reputation.
• 😀 Harry Potter himself, despite his initial bias against Slytherins, eventually came to terms with them, naming his son after Severus Snape and suggesting that Slytherin could have good members.
• 😀 Fans struggled with the idea that real-life Slytherin members were not evil like the book characters, creating a paradox where Slytherins were both vilified and misunderstood.
• 😀 The 'Slytherin Paradox' emerged as fans from other houses looked down on real-life Slytherin members, reinforcing the same prejudice they opposed in the books.
• 😀 The release of *The Cursed Child* play, featuring Albus Potter sorted into Slytherin, offered a more positive portrayal of the house, suggesting the possibility of Slytherin heroes.
• 😀 Over time, the Slytherin house rebranding softened its elitist image, focusing more on notable figures like Merlin, and reflecting a broader acceptance of house diversity in the Harry Potter fandom.

Q & A

What is the main dilemma discussed in the video?

The main dilemma revolves around the challenge fans face when being sorted into Slytherin house on Pottermore. The house is associated with evil and dark magic in the Harry Potter series, leading to feelings of shame or discomfort for those who are sorted into it.

Why did Slytherin house have a negative reputation among fans?

Slytherin house was associated with dark wizards like Voldemort, and its members, such as Draco Malfoy, were often portrayed as prejudiced and villainous in the books. This reputation made it less desirable for fans to identify with Slytherin.

How did Pottermore address the issue of fans being sorted into Slytherin?

Pottermore initially faced backlash when a significant portion of its users were sorted into Slytherin, which led to feelings of being 'evil.' To address this, they rebranded the house and emphasized its historical achievements and notable figures, such as Merlin, to make it more appealing.

What is the 'Slytherin Paradox' mentioned in the video?

The 'Slytherin Paradox' refers to the irony where Slytherin house in the books is portrayed as elitist and prejudiced, but in the real world, fans sorted into Slytherin often faced discrimination from others, despite all fans loving the same series and its core values of unity and friendship.

What was the effect of the sorting quiz on the fans?

The sorting quiz on Pottermore, while providing an engaging way for fans to find out their Hogwarts house, created some distress for those sorted into Slytherin, as it forced them to confront the house's negative portrayal in the books. Some fans felt conflicted about being placed in a house associated with bad characters.

Why was the Slytherin welcome letter from Gemma Farley problematic?

The welcome letter from Gemma Farley was problematic because it reinforced the elitist and dark reputation of Slytherin. She highlighted the house's reputation for walking on the 'wild side' and subtly downplayed the importance of good grades, while also mocking other houses in a divisive way.

What does the video suggest about the way fans of Slytherin were perceived?

Fans of Slytherin were often met with prejudice from other fans who viewed them as being on the side of dark magic and evil, even though in reality, they simply loved the same fictional world. This created an awkward and uncomfortable experience for Slytherin fans.

How did the character Albus Potter's experience in 'The Cursed Child' challenge the perception of Slytherin?

In 'The Cursed Child,' Albus Potter is sorted into Slytherin and forms a strong friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, a member of the house. This challenges the idea that Slytherins are inherently evil and suggests that inter-house friendship can overcome past enmities.

How did the video explain the role of prejudice in the Harry Potter fandom?

The video highlights the irony that while the Harry Potter series promotes unity, acceptance, and tolerance, fans who were sorted into Slytherin faced prejudice from others who had been sorted into different houses. This reflected a real-world divide, even though all fans shared the same love for the series.

What steps were taken to make Slytherin more positive on Pottermore?

Pottermore rebranded Slytherin house by emphasizing historical figures from the house who were not associated with dark magic, such as Merlin. They also updated the house's welcome messages to be less elitist and more inclusive, focusing on unity and positive qualities.